Expression of SRC-1, AIB1, and PEA3 in HER2 mediated endocrine resistant breast cancer; a predictive role for SRC-1

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology 2004-10, Vol.57 (10), p.1069-1074
• Main Authors: Fleming, F J, Myers, E, Kelly, G, Crotty, T B, McDermott, E W, O’Higgins, N J, Hill, A D K, Young, L S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; AIB1; amplified in breast cancer 1; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Chemotherapy; coactivators; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; EGFR; epidermal growth factor receptor; Female; Gene expression; Growth factors; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; HER2; Histone Acetyltransferases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kinases; Laboratories; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; mitogen activated protein; Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 1; Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3; oestrogen receptor; Original; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; PBS; PEA3; phosphate buffered saline; Proteins; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; Rodents; SRC-1; steroid receptor coactivator-1; Studies; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - analysis; Tumors
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2004.016733

Background: In human breast cancer, the growth factor receptor HER2 is associated with disease progression and resistance to endocrine treatment. Growth factor induced mitogen activated protein kinase activity can phosphorylate not only the oestrogen receptor, but also its coactivator proteins AIB1 and SRC-1. Aim: To determine whether insensitivity to endocrine treatment in HER2 positive patients is associated with enhanced expression of coactivator proteins, expression of the HER2 transcriptional regulator, PEA3, and coregulatory proteins, AIB1 and SRC-1, was assessed in a cohort of patients with breast cancer of known HER2 status. Methods: PEA3, AIB1, and SRC-1 protein expression in 70 primary breast tumours of known HER2 status (HER2 positive, n = 35) and six reduction mammoplasties was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Colocalisation of PEA3 with AIB1 and SRC-1 was determined using immunofluorescence. Expression of PEA3, AIB1, and SRC-1 was correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: In primary breast tumours expression of PEA3, AIB1, and SRC-1 was associated with HER2 status (p = 0.0486, p = 0.0444, and p = 0.0012, respectively). In the HER2 positive population, PEA3 expression was associated with SRC-1 (p = 0.0354), and both PEA3 and SRC-1 were significantly associated with recurrence on univariate analysis (p = 0.0345; p