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Dagher E, Abadie J, Loussouarn D, Fanuel D, Campone M, Nguyen F. Bcl-2 expression and prognostic significance in feline invasive mammary carcinomas: a retrospective observational study. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:25. [PMID: 30630524 PMCID: PMC6329127 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1772-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cats spontaneously develop invasive mammary carcinomas with high clinical aggressiveness, and are considered relevant animal models for human breast cancer. Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic pro-survival protein, whose expression is associated with a favorable outcome in human breast cancer. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of Bcl-2 expression in feline invasive mammary carcinomas (FMCs), its relationship with other clinicopathologic variables, and its prognostic value. This retrospective study included 180 FMCs, diagnosed in female cats treated by surgery only, with a 2-year follow-up post-mastectomy. Bcl-2, ER, PR, Ki-67, HER2, and CK5/6 expression were determined by automated immunohistochemistry. A receiver-operating-characteristic curve was used to set the threshold for Bcl-2 positivity. RESULTS The cohort comprises 32% (57/180) luminal FMCs defined by ER and/or PR positivity, and 68% (123/180) triple-negative FMCs (negative for ER, PR, and HER2). Bcl-2 expression was considered as positive when at least 65% of tumor cells were immunohistochemically stained. Thirty-one out of 180 FMCs (17%) were Bcl-2-positive. There was no significant association between Bcl-2 expression, and the tumor size, nodal stage, histological grade, or ER, PR, Ki-67, HER2, and CK5/6 expression. By multivariate survival analysis (Cox proportional-hazards regression), Bcl-2 positivity in FMCs was associated with longer disease-free interval (p = 0.005, HR = 0.38), overall survival (p = 0.028, HR = 0.61), and cancer-specific survival (p = 0.019, HR = 0.54) independently of other powerful prognostic factors such as pathologic tumor size, pathologic nodal stage, and distant metastasis. The positive prognostic value of Bcl-2 was confirmed in both luminal FMCs, of which 9/57 (16%) were Bcl-2-positive, and in basal-like triple-negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-, CK5/6+) FMCs, of which 14/76 (18%) were Bcl-2-positive. CONCLUSIONS Compared to human breast cancer, Bcl-2 positivity in feline invasive mammary carcinomas is also associated with better outcome, but is less common, and not associated with ER, PR, and HER2 expression. Cats with spontaneous Bcl-2-positive FMCs could be useful in preclinical trials evaluating anti-Bcl-2 strategies for chemoresistant luminal or triple-negative breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elie Dagher
- AMaROC, Oniris (Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering), Oniris site Chantrerie, CS40706, 44307, Cedex 3, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Abadie
- AMaROC, Oniris (Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering), Oniris site Chantrerie, CS40706, 44307, Cedex 3, Nantes, France.,CRCINA, INSERM, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Delphine Loussouarn
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Hôtel-Dieu CHU de Nantes, Anatomie Pathologique, cedex 01, Nantes, 44093, France
| | - Dominique Fanuel
- AMaROC, Oniris (Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering), Oniris site Chantrerie, CS40706, 44307, Cedex 3, Nantes, France
| | - Mario Campone
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France.,Integrated Center for Oncology, ICO, 15 rue André Boquet, cedex 02, 49055, Angers, France
| | - Frédérique Nguyen
- AMaROC, Oniris (Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering), Oniris site Chantrerie, CS40706, 44307, Cedex 3, Nantes, France. .,CRCINA, INSERM, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France. .,Integrated Center for Oncology, ICO, 15 rue André Boquet, cedex 02, 49055, Angers, France.
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Searle CJ, Brock IW, Cross SS, Balasubramanian SP, Reed MW, Cox A. A BCL2 promoter polymorphism rs2279115 is not associated with BCL2 protein expression or patient survival in breast cancer patients. SPRINGERPLUS 2012; 1:38. [PMID: 23961365 PMCID: PMC3725909 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-1-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) gene family encodes pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins that are critical regulators of programmed cell death. Higher levels of BCL2 expression in breast tumours have been shown to be an independent prognostic factor for improved survival from breast cancer. The promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2279115 has been associated with both BCL2 expression and patient survival. The aim of this study was to attempt to replicate these observations in a cohort of 1015 UK women with breast cancer, and to compare genotype frequencies in cases and controls. In this study, 1015 breast cancer cases and 1034 control subjects were genotyped for the rs2279115 SNP by 5’ nuclease PCR. Paraffin embedded tumour tissue for 342 case subjects was assembled into tissue microarrays, and the level of expression of BCL2 was established by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan Meier survival curves and Cox Proportional Hazards models were used to examine the effect of genotype on patient survival. The effect of SNP genotype on tumour BCL2 protein levels and breast cancer susceptibility was assessed by logistic regression. In this study higher BCL2 expression was significantly associated with improved survival from breast cancer (p = 0.015), in keeping with previous reports. The SNP rs2279115 was not found to be associated with tumour expression of BCL2, (p = 0.77), and neither was it associated with case/control status (p = 0.25). There was no significant association between the SNP and overall survival (p = 0.75). In conclusion, we found that higher tumour BCL2 expression is associated with improved survival from breast cancer, in keeping with previous studies. However, in contrast to a previous report, the promoter SNP rs2279115 was not associated with BCL2 expression or overall survival from breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Searle
- Department of Oncology, CR-UK/YCR Sheffield Cancer Research Centre, University of Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, UK ; Department of Clinical Genetics, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, UK
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Nadler Y, Camp RL, Giltnane JM, Moeder C, Rimm DL, Kluger HM, Kluger Y. Expression patterns and prognostic value of Bag-1 and Bcl-2 in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2008; 10:R35. [PMID: 18430249 PMCID: PMC2397537 DOI: 10.1186/bcr1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2007] [Revised: 04/14/2008] [Accepted: 04/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bcl-2 antanogene-1 (Bag-1) binds the anti-apoptotic mediator Bcl-2, and enhances its activity. Bcl-2 and Bag-1 are associated with chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells. Drugs that target Bcl-2 are currently in clinical development. The purpose of the present study was to examine expression patterns of Bag-1 in a large cohort of breast tumors and to assess the association with Bcl-2, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2/neu, and other clinical/pathological variables. Methods Tissue microarrays containing primary specimens from 638 patients with 10-year follow-up were employed, and the expression of Bag-1, Bcl-2, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2/neu was assessed using our automated quantitative analysis method. We used cytokeratin to define pixels as breast cancer (tumor mask) within the array spot, and we measured biomarker expression within the mask using Cy5 conjugated antibodies. Results High Bcl-2 expression was associated with improved survival in the entire cohort and in the node-positive subset (P = 0.008 and P = 0.002, respectively). High Bag-1 expression was associated with improved survival in the node-positive subset (P = 0.006). On multivariable analysis, neither Bcl-2 nor Bag-1 retained their independence as prognostic markers. Strong associations were found between Bag-1, Bcl-2, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Conclusion Bag-1 and Bcl-2 expression in breast tumors is associated with improved outcome and steroid receptor positivity. Evaluation of Bcl-2 and Bag-1 expression in breast cancer may identify a subset of patients with a favorable prognosis, who might not benefit from chemotherapy or who might benefit from Bcl-2 targeting agents in addition to antihormonal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Nadler
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Schiller AB, Clark WS, Cotsonis G, Lawson D, DeRose PB, Cohen C. Image cytometric bcl-2:bax and bcl-2:bcl-x ratios in invasive breast carcinoma: correlation with prognosis. CYTOMETRY 2002; 50:203-9. [PMID: 12210599 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.10091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bcl-2 family of proteins are important regulators of apoptosis. Some of the members, such as bcl-2 and bcl-x(L), inhibit cell death, whereas others, such as bax and bcl-x(S), promote cell death. We evaluated the ratios of bcl-2:bax and bcl-2:bcl-x expression by image cytometry in invasive breast carcinoma to determine prognostic significance. DESIGN Five-micron sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 88 invasive breast carcinomas were immunostained using steam antigen retrieval, an avidin biotin-complex technique with automated stainer and primary antibodies against bcl-2 (1/160; Dako, Carpenteria, CA), bax (1/1,500; PharMingen, San Diego, CA), and bcl-x (1/1,500; PharMingen). Positive controls were tonsil (bcl-2) and normal breast (bax and bcl-x) tissue samples. Immunostain was measured in 15 high power fields as percentage positive area (PPA) in nuclei and cytoplasm using the CAS 200 image analyzer (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA). RESULTS Median follow-up was 105 months (range 11-130). Significantly improved disease-free survival was found in patients with a bcl-2:bcl-x ratio > or = 1 by univariate and multivariate analyses. The bcl-2:bax ratio was not predictive of overall or disease-free survival. A significant difference in overall and disease-free survival was found between carcinomas with positive and negative bcl-2 expression by univariate analysis; by multivariate analysis, bcl-2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. The 5-year survival rates were 77% and 50% in patients with bcl-2-positive and bcl-2-negative carcinomas, respectively. CONCLUSION A bcl-2:bcl-x ratio > or = 1, assessed by image cytometry, is significantly associated with improved disease-free survival in patients with invasive breast carcinoma. Significantly increased overall and disease-free survival is associated with positive bcl-2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Schiller
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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González-Cámpora R, Galera Ruiz MR, Vázquez Ramírez F, Ríos Martín JJ, Fernández Santos JM, Ramos Martos MM, Gómez Pascual A. Apoptosis in breast carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2000; 196:167-74. [PMID: 10729921 DOI: 10.1016/s0344-0338(00)80097-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis may play a major role in determining tumor growth and aggressiveness. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between apoptosis, expression of bcl-2 and p53 proteins, proliferation index, and other clinicopathological features of breast carcinoma. Sixty-five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from invasive ductal breast carcinomas were studied for the presence of apoptosis by the terminaldeoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP-FITC nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. Immunohistochemical methods were also used to determine the expression of estrogen receptor, Ki67, bcl-2 and p53 proteins. The number of apoptotic cells ranged from 2.0 to 236.0/10HPF (mean 36.26, median 28.0). The observation of 30 apoptotic cells/10HPF was more common in tumors > 3 cm, of histological grade III, with a high mitotic index, Ki67 index > or = 300, and p53 positivity; however, statistical significance was found only for the histological grade. Grade I and III tumors displayed an inverse association between the apoptotic index and bcl-2 and p53 protein expressions; grade I tumors frequently expressed bcl-2 (19/28), lacked p53 (20/28), and presented a low number of apoptotic cells (18/28), whereas grade III tumors tended to express p53 (12/17), lacked bcl-2 (13/17), and displayed a high number of apoptotic cells/10HPF (12/17). Multivariate analysis for survival revealed that estrogen receptors and apoptosis were independent variables. These data suggest that apoptosis, rather than proliferation index or expression of bcl-2 or p53 proteins, is an independent factor for the prognosis of survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- R González-Cámpora
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Faculty of Medicine, Seville, Spain
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