Decreased expression of phosphorylated JNK in breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma is associated with a better overall survival

Int J Cancer. 2006 Jun 1;118(11):2678-84. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21707.

Abstract

Phosphorylation/activation of c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) has an ambivalent role, pro-proliferation or antiproliferation, in human cancers, which is determined by different cell types and by its crosstalk with other kinases. So far, the role of phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK) in breast cancer is mostly undefined. In this study, we analyzed the expression of p-JNK, as well as p-ERK1/2 and p-38, in the pair of cancer and noncancer breast tissues, by using immunoblotting techniques. These results were further correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival. Decreased p-JNK1/2 expression in cancer tissues was observed in 48.5% of breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) cases and was correlated significantly with the increased tumor grade and the decreased age at diagnosis (p = 0.030 and 0.029). Interestingly, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the decreased p-JNK1/2 expression was associated with a better overall survival of IDC (p = 0.004). The expression of p-JNK1/2 was positively correlated with p-p38 (p = 0.002), but not p-ERK1/2. Furthermore, co-expressed p-JNK1/2 and p-p38 was associated with a poor overall survival of IDC (p = 0.007). In conclusion, our results indicate that the aberrant p-JNK1/2 expression and the co-expressed p-JNK1/2 and p-p38 in breast tissues may play a role in the carcinogenesis of breast IDC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / biosynthesis
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / biosynthesis*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / biosynthesis*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases