乳腺癌中ERK表达及其与临床病理特征的相关性研究

目的　探讨乳腺癌组织中细胞外信号调节激酶 (ERK)的表达及其与临床病理特征的相关性 ,以及术前化疗对其表达的影响。方法　应用Westernblot方法检测 4 8例乳腺癌组织及正常乳腺组织中ERK 1、ERK 2蛋白表达情况 ,其中 8例患者术前接受脱氧氟尿苷 (5′ DFUR)化疗。应用免疫组织化学方法对ERK蛋白进行定位检测。结果　乳腺癌组织中 ,ERK 1与ERK 2的蛋白表达水平高于正常乳腺组织 (P <0 .0 1) ,二者呈正线性相关 (r=0 .4 5 7,P <0 .0 1)。Ⅲ期乳腺癌组织中的ERK 1与ERK 2蛋白表达水平高于Ⅱ期与Ⅰ期乳腺癌 (P <0 .0 5 )。术前行 5′ DFUR化疗的乳腺癌组织中 ,ERK 1与ERK 2蛋白表达水平有所降低。ERK蛋白主要分布于细胞浆中。结论　ERK蛋白的过表达在乳腺癌患者的发生、发展中可能起重要促进作用 ;术前应用 5′ DFUR化疗可部分抑制乳腺癌组织中ERK蛋白的表达

Expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer as well as the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on ERK expression. METHODS: Expression of ERK-1 and ERK-2 protein was examined by Western blot in the breast cancer and normal breast (control) tissue of 48 patients, of whom 8 had received preoperative chemotherapy of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), with distribution of ERKs protein detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Expression of ERK-1 and ERK-2 protein was increased in tumor specimen as compared with control tissue (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed between ERK-1 and ERK-2 (r = 0.457, P < 0.01). Protein level of ERK-1 and ERK-2 was higher in stage III patients than in stage I and stage II patients (P < 0.05). Expression of both ERK-1 and ERK-2 in the carcinoma tissue was decreased in patients who had received preoperative chemotherapy of 5'-DFUR. ERK-1 and ERK-2 proteins were mainly located in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: The hyperexpression of ERK may play an important role in the initiation and development of human breast cancer. Preoperative chemotherapy of 5'-DFUR is able to partially inhibit ERK expression.