PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - STEFAN KNIPPEN
AU  - THOMAS LÖNING
AU  - VOLKMAR MÜLLER
AU  - CHRISTINE SCHRÖDER
AU  - FRITZ JÄNICKE
AU  - KARIN MILDE-LANGOSCH
TI  - Expression and Prognostic Value of Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2) and its Phosphorylated Form in Mammary Carcinomas
DP  - 2009 Jan 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 183--189
VI  - 29
IP  - 1
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/183.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/1/183.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2009 Jan 01; 29
AB  - Background: The transcription factor ATF2 is overexpressed in various tumors, but its role in breast cancer is still not understood. Materials and Methods: In a study of mammary carcinomas, the expression of ATF2 and its phosphorylated active forms was analyzed by Western blot analysis (WB; pThr69/pThr71-ATF2, n=134) and immunohistochemistry (IHC; p-ATF2-Thr6, n=110). Results were correlated with histological and clinical data, survival data, expression of ERK1/2 and two matrix metalloproteinases. Results: Patients with high ATF2 expression as detected by WB had a significantly shorter overall survival (p=0.038). This tendency was corroborated by IHC. In contrast, high p-ATF2 expression as found by WB correlated significantly with a well-differentiated phenotype, but not with prognosis. Immunohistochemically detected p-ATF2 overexpression was even associated with prolonged survival (p=0.047). Conclusion: Although high ATF2 expression is associated with a poor prognosis, our data do not point to an oncogenic role of active p-ATF2 in mammary carcinomas. Copyright© 2009 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved