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Diagnostic Pathology
Published in: Diagnostic Pathology 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Expression of glucosylceramide synthase in invasive ductal breast cancer may be correlated with high estrogen receptor status and low HER-2 status

Authors: Jiannan Liu, Ping Sun, Yuan Sun, Aina Liu, Dong You, Fenge Jiang, Yuping Sun

Published in: Diagnostic Pathology | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background and objectives

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Studies on glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) activity suggest that this enzyme has a role in the development of multidrug resistance in many cancer cells. However, few studies have shown the expression of GCS in invasive ductal breast cancer and breast intraductal proliferative lesions.

Methods

In total, 196 samples from patients with invasive ductal breast cancer and 61 samples of breast intraductal proliferative lesions were collected. Immunohistochemical analyses were conducted to determine the expression of GCS and other related proteins.

Results

Expression of GCS was high in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER-2 negative samples. In contrast, the expression of GCS in invasive ductal cancer was significantly lower than that in intraductal proliferative lesions.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrates a correlation between the expression of the GCS protein and ER-positive/HER-2 negative breast cancer. Furthermore, in contrast to previous reports, the expression of GCS protein was shown to be much higher in ductal carcinoma in-situ than that in invasive ductal cancer.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://​www.​diagnosticpathol​ogy.​diagnomx.​eu/​vs/​1559854430111589​.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Expression of glucosylceramide synthase in invasive ductal breast cancer may be correlated with high estrogen receptor status and low HER-2 status
Authors
Jiannan Liu
Ping Sun
Yuan Sun
Aina Liu
Dong You
Fenge Jiang
Yuping Sun
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Diagnostic Pathology / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1746-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1596-9-22

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