Correlation between metallothionein (MT) expression and selected prognostic factors in ductal breast cancers

Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 2010 Jan;48(2):242-8. doi: 10.2478/v10042-010-0011-5.

Abstract

Our study aimed at examining significance of metallothionein (MT) expression in ductal breast cancers by determination of a relationship between expression of MT protein (MT-1/2) and selected prognostic factors, including grade of histological differentiation (G), expression of Ki-67 proliferative antigen, expression of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) and expression of HER-2 receptor. Material for the studies involved 54 samples of invasive ductal breast cancer, manifesting malignancy grades of G1-G3. In paraffin sections of examined tumours immunohistochemical reactions were performed using specific antibodies directed to MT, Ki-67, ER, PgR or HER-2. Intensity of MT-specific immunohistochemical reactions was measured using the semiquantitative IRS scale of Remmele. Intensity of colour reactions targeted at Ki-67, ER, PgR was evaluated scoring proportions of positive cells, while HER-2-specific reactions were evaluated in the scale of 0-3 points. The lowest level of MT expression was detected in breast cancer cases of G1 malignancy grade (G1 vs G3 p=0.020). A positive correlation between MT and Ki-67 antigen expression (r=0.32, p=0.019) was disclosed. Moreover, MT expression exhibited negative correlations with expression of ER (r=-0.35, p=0.008) and PgR (r=-0.27, p=0.046). No relationships could be detected between expression of MT and expression of HER-2 (r=0.12, p=0.37). The obtained results suggest that MT expression might be helpful in prognostic evaluation of ductal breast cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Metallothionein / metabolism*
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Metallothionein