The expression of fascin, an actin-bundling motility protein, correlates with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer and a more aggressive clinical course

Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Jan 1;11(1):186-92.

Abstract

The invasion and metastasis of tumor cells is a major cause of mortality in cancer patients. In the current study, we investigated the expression of fascin, an actin-bundling motility-associated protein, in 210 invasive breast carcinomas with corresponding 5-year clinical follow-up. Fascin expression was compared with hormone receptor (ER/PR) status, HER2 status, cancer grade, cancer stage, metastasis pattern, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Fascin expression was seen in 16% (33/210) of the cases and correlated with ER negativity (22/33, P < 0.001), PR negativity (21/33, P < 0.001), Bloom-Richardson grade 3 (19/29, P < 0.001), and advanced stage (stage 3 or 4, P = 0.04). There was no correlation between fascin expression and HER2 status or pattern of metastases. Patients whose tumors were positive for fascin showed both a decreased mean disease-free survival (74.44 versus 100.52 months, P = 0.002) and mean overall survival (77.58 versus 98.98 months, P = 0.002), independent of tumor stage and HER2 status, but not independent of ER/PR status or cancer grade. Given fascin's role in altering cell motility, overexpression may contribute to a more aggressive clinical course in ER/PR-negative breast cancers. If so, then fascin may represent a new molecular target for therapeutic intervention in patients with ER-negative breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Movement
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Recurrence
  • Time Factors
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Actins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • fascin
  • Receptor, ErbB-2