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ABSTRACT: Purpose
Gap junctions are specialized membrane structures that form channels between adjacent cells allowing cell communication. Gap junctions and specifically Connexin 43 (Cx43) are down-regulated in cancer; however, there are contrasting reports on how this effects breast cancer patient survival. This paper is the first large-scale tissue microarray analysis of Cx43 expression in breast cancer patients with an associated clinical long-term follow-up.Methods
Using a validated TMA of 1118 primary breast cancers, coupled to a comprehensive database of clinicopathological variables, the expression levels and subcellular localisation of Cx43 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Its impact in terms of survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and clinicopathological variables was determined.Results
Patients whose tumors expressed high levels of Cx43 had significantly better survival (p?ConclusionConnexin 43 (Cx43) is an independent predictor of breast cancer survival and distant metastasis-free survival. High expression of Cx43 was seen in only 13% of tumors, suggesting that drugs to increase Cx43 expression may result in prolonged patients survival.
SUBMITTER: Chasampalioti M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6418069 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Chasampalioti Maria M Green Andrew R AR Ellis Ian O IO Rakha Emad A EA Jackson Andrew M AM Spendlove Ian I Ramage Judith M JM
Breast cancer research and treatment 20181124 1
<h4>Purpose</h4>Gap junctions are specialized membrane structures that form channels between adjacent cells allowing cell communication. Gap junctions and specifically Connexin 43 (Cx43) are down-regulated in cancer; however, there are contrasting reports on how this effects breast cancer patient survival. This paper is the first large-scale tissue microarray analysis of Cx43 expression in breast cancer patients with an associated clinical long-term follow-up.<h4>Methods</h4>Using a validated TM ...[more]