Abstract:
Objective To study the expression of Snail protein in the breast cancer tissues, and to explore the correlation analysis between the Snail protein as well as its controlling epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and malignant biological behavior of breast cancer.
Methods Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expressions of Snail, E-cadherin (epithelial marker), Vimentin (mesenchymal marker) protein in 60 cases of breast cancer tissues (non-specificity of invasive ductal carcinoma), 20 cases of adjacent tissue of breast cancer, and 20 cases of normal breast tissues, and then to analyze the relationship of expression intensity of Snail, E-cadherin and Vimentin protein, and the correlation of expression of Snail protein and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.
Results ①In normal breast tissues, adjacent tissue of breast cancer and breast cancer tissues, the positive percentages of Snail protein expression were 0, 30%, 53.3% respectively. With the gradual increment of Snail protein expression, the positive percentages of Vimentin protein expression were 0, 40%, 63.3% respectively. With the gradual increment of Vimentin protein expression, the positive percentages of E-cadherin protein expression were 100%、75%、56.7% respectively. When the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased gradually, there was a significant difference in the expression of 3 kind of proteins among normal breast tissues, adjacent tissue of breast cancer and breast cancer tissues (all P < 0.05).②There were a significant positive correlation between Snail protein expression and Vimentin protein expression (r = 0.536, P = 0.000), a significant negative correlation of expression difference between Snail protein and E-cadherin protein (r = –0.413, P = 0.001), a significance negative correlation between E-cadherin protein expression and Vimentin protein expression in 3 kind of tissues (r = –0.526, P = 0.000). ③There was a positive correlation between Snail protein expression and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer (r = 0.600, P = 0.000).
Conclusion The zinc finger transcription factor Snail plays an important role in the occurrence and invasion of breast cancer by involving in regulation of EMT process, and then promoting the distant lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.
刘志容, 吴诚义. Snail在乳腺癌中的表达及其与上皮-间质转化的关系[J]. 《中国医药生物技术》杂志, 2012, 7(1): 37-42.
LIU Zhi-Rong, WU Cheng-Yi. Correlation of Snail expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast carcinomas. , 2012, 7(1): 37-42.