The possible correlation of Notch-1 and Notch-2 with clinical outcome and tumour clinicopathological parameters in human breast cancer

  • Authors:
    • C. Parr
    • G. Watkins
    • W. G. Jiang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 1, 2004     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.14.5.779
  • Pages: 779-786
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Abstract

The Notch-1 and Notch-2 receptors play crucial roles in cell fate determination through interaction with the Delta/Serrate/Lag-2 family of ligands. The function of Notch signalling in tumourigenesis is still unclear, however, reports have demonstrated unregulated Notch activity in a variety of human cancers. We quantified Notch-1 and Notch-2 expression, in association with clinical outcome, in tissue samples from breast cancer patients (normal specimens n=24, breast cancer specimens n=97). We used qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR analysis, along with immunohistochemical staining to examine Notch-1 and Notch-2 expression in association with the patients clinical parameters (median follow-up 72 months). Our results show that there are aberrant levels of Notch-1 and Notch-2 in breast cancer tissues compared with normal breast tissue. Examination of the breast cancer patients' clinicopathological parameters reported that a high level of Notch-1 may be associated with a poorer outlook for the breast cancer patient, while a high level of Notch-2 correlated to a higher chance of survival. Notch-1 and Notch-2 also appear to play crucial and contrasting roles in breast tumour differentiation. Notch-1 expression was low in grade 1 tumours and increased in poorly-differentiated tumours, whereas, Notch-2 expression was high in well-differentiated tumours and reduced in breast tumours with poor differentiation. Therefore, Notch-1 may possess tumour-promoting functions, while Notch-2 could play a tumour-suppressive role in human breast cancer. These results support the notion that suppression of Notch-1 activity may represent a novel therapeutic strategy.

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November 2004
Volume 14 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Parr C, Watkins G and Jiang WG: The possible correlation of Notch-1 and Notch-2 with clinical outcome and tumour clinicopathological parameters in human breast cancer. Int J Mol Med 14: 779-786, 2004.
APA
Parr, C., Watkins, G., & Jiang, W.G. (2004). The possible correlation of Notch-1 and Notch-2 with clinical outcome and tumour clinicopathological parameters in human breast cancer. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 14, 779-786. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.14.5.779
MLA
Parr, C., Watkins, G., Jiang, W. G."The possible correlation of Notch-1 and Notch-2 with clinical outcome and tumour clinicopathological parameters in human breast cancer". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 14.5 (2004): 779-786.
Chicago
Parr, C., Watkins, G., Jiang, W. G."The possible correlation of Notch-1 and Notch-2 with clinical outcome and tumour clinicopathological parameters in human breast cancer". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 14, no. 5 (2004): 779-786. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.14.5.779