TGF-β1 and its signal molecules: are they correlated with the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions?

• Published in: BMC cancer 2021-12, Vol.21 (1), p.1336-1336, Article 1336
• Main Authors: Zhang, Meng Ke, Wang, Bo, Li, Shi Yu, Liu, Gang, Wang, Zhi Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AKT protein; Biopsy; Breast; Breast - diagnostic imaging; Breast - metabolism; Breast cancer; Breast lesions; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; c-Jun protein; Correlation analysis; Elasticity; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Elasticity parameters; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; JNK protein; Kinases; Lesions; Mammography; MAP kinase; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Signal molecules; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Smad2 protein; Standard deviation; Statistical analysis; TGF-β1; Transcription factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Transforming growth factor-b1; Ultrasonic imaging; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-09036-4

Shear wave elastography can evaluate tissue stiffness. Previous studies showed that the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions were related to the components of extracellular matrix which was regulated by transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) directly or indirectly. However, the correlation of the expression level of TGF-β1, its signal molecules and elasticity characteristics of breast lesions have rarely been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the expression level of TGF-β1, its signal molecules, and the elasticity characteristics of breast lesions. 135 breast lesions in 130 patients were included. Elasticity parameters, including elasticity modulus, the elasticity ratio, the "stiff rim sign", were recorded before biopsy and surgical excision. The expression levels of TGF-β1 and its signal molecules, including Smad2/3, Erk1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The diagnostic performance of the expression level of those molecules and their correlation with the elasticity characteristics were analyzed. Elasticity parameters and the expression levels of TGF- β1 and its signal molecules of benign lesions were lower than those of malignant lesions (P