Expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and its receptor (KGFR) in human breast cancer

概要

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KGF acts as a steroid hormone-dependent mitogen for epithelial cells through binding to KGFR which is specifically expressed in epithelial cells. In human breast cancer, the stromal cell-derived KGF, acting synergistically with estrogen, has been implicated in the abnormal growth. However, localization of KGF and KGFR in breast cancer tissues was largely unknown. In the present study, paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues obtained surgically from 29 patients were used for analysis of the expression of KGF and KGFR by immunohistochemistry using newly generated antibodies. We also analyzed the distribution of estrogen receptors (ER α, β) and progesterone receptor (PR). To identify proliferating cells, Ki-67 immunostaining was performed. As a result, in 7/29 (24%) of cases KGF and KGFR were co-expressed. The expression of KGF and ER α in the cancer cells was closely correlated (p<0.05), while KGF was coexpressed with ER β in the stromal cells. Moreover, KGFR expression was often correlated with a high Ki-67 labeling index. Therefore, these results indicate that KGF and KGFR may be involved in the stimulation of breast cancer growth and also their expression can be affected by ER α and ER β.
日本組織細胞化学会の論文