Expression Of Cx43, Cx26, VEGF-C, ER,PR In Breast Carcinoma And Their Prognosis Significance

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the expression of Cx43,Cx26,VEGF-C,ER,PR , the clinicopathological characteristics in breast carcinoma and to elucidate their role in tumor progression, metastasis and prognosis. In order to providing a new theoretical basis for clinical treatment and predicting prognosis.Methods: A total of 111 paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma (68 case with the full follow-up) and 14 non-carcinomatous breast tissues were stained with polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies using S-P method, and the patients' prognosis significance were analyzed by Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model according to the clinical follow-up material. Result: 1. The comparison of the clinicopathological feature: In the infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC), vessel invasion and tumor size over 2.0cm, the positive rate of lymph node metastasis were 72.22%, 65.79%, 67.16%, respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). In the poorly differentiated cancers (III graded), the positive rate of vessel invasion was 55.26%,with significant difference(P<0.05). 2. The comparison of the immunohistochemical staining results: The positive rate of Cx43, Cx26, VEGF-C in 14 non-carcinomatous breast tissues were 85.71%(12/14), 78.57%(11/14), 14.29%(2/14), respectively. The positive rate of Cx43, Cx26, VEGF-C in 111 breast carcinomas were 38.74%(43/111), 43.24%(48/111), 47.75%(53/111), respectively. The difference between the two groups of patients was significant (P<0.05). The expression level of Cx43 and Cx26 were significant lower in the tumors than that in the non-carcinomatous breast tissues (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). And the expression level of VEGF-C was significant higher in the tumors than that in the non-carcinomatous breast tissues (P<0.05). The expression of Cx43 was related to histopathological grading and vessel invasion. Out of 43 Cx43 positive staining, 31(72.09%) were observed in moderately and well-differentiated tumors (I-II graded). Breast tumor malignant degree increased with Cx43 positive expression decreased (P<0.05). There was no significant association between Cx43 and the other clinicopathological feature(P＞0.05). The expression of Cx26 was related to histopathological grading. Out of 48 Cx26 positive staining, 30(62.5%) were observed in moderately and well-differentiated tumors (I-II graded). Breast tumor malignant degree increased with Cx26 positive expression decreased (P<0.05). But there was no significant association between Cx26 and the other clinicopathologicalfeature(P＞0.05). Out of 53 VEGF-C positive staining, the positive rate of lymph node metastasis was 37(69.81%), which was significant higher than that no lymph node metastasis group (P<0.05). There was no significant association between VEGF-C and the other clinicopathological feature(P＞0.05). There was a close correlation between ER, PR status and lymph node metastasis. Out of 26 ER, PR negative staining, the positive rate of lymph node metastasis were 20(76.92%) and 21(80.77%), respectively. There was no significant association between ER, PR and the other clinicopathological feature(P＞0.05, two-tailed). The expression of Cx43 was high positive correlated with Cx26 (rs＝0.442,P＜0.001＝.There was no significant association between Cx43, Cx26 and the other protein and hormone receptors expression(P＞0.05). The expression of ER was high positive correlated with PR (rs＝0.397,P＜0.001).There was no significant association between ER, PR and the other protein expression(P＞0.05). By the Cox regression model, VEGF-C, Cx26, and lymph node metastasis were close associated with prognosis. VEGF-C and lymph node metastasis were risk factors. The hazard ratios of VEGF-C expression and lymph node status were 11.118 and 10.126,respectively . P=0.007 and 0.042, respectively. There was significant association with prognosis. Patients with high expression of VEGF-C andlymph node metastasis had a significantly poorer prognos...