Tumour-associated endothelial-FAK correlated with molecular sub-type and prognostic factors in invasive breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that can be classified into one of 4 main molecular sub-types: luminal A, luminal B, Her2 over-expressing and basal-like (BL). These tumour sub-types require different treatments and have different risks of disease progression. BL cancers can be considered a sub-group of Triple negative (TN) cancers since they lack estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and Her2 expression. No targeted treatment currently exists for TN/BL cancers. Thus it is important to identify potential therapeutic targets and describe their relationship with established prognostic factors. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is upregulated in several human cancers and also plays a functional role in tumour angiogenesis. However, the association between breast cancer sub-types and tumour endothelial-FAK expression is unknown.Using immunofluorescence, we quantified FAK expression in tumour endothelial and tumour cell compartments in 149 invasive breast carcinomas and correlated expression with clinical, pathological and molecular parameters.Low endothelial-FAK expression was independently associated with luminal A tumours at univariate (p?

SUBMITTER: Alexopoulou AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3997837 | biostudies-other | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other