Open Access Highly Accessed Research article

Oncoprotein HCCR-1 expression in breast cancer is well correlated with known breast cancer prognostic factors including the HER2 overexpression, p53 mutation, and ER/PR status

Seon-Ah Ha1†, Youn S Lee2†, Seung M Shin1, Hyun K Kim1, Sanghee Kim1, Hong Namkoong1, Hae J Kim1, Sang M Jung1, Yu S Lee1, Yeun J Chung3, Sang S Jung4 and Jin W Kim1,5*

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Molecular Genetic Laboratory, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea

2 Department of Hospital pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea

3 Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea

4 Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea

5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea

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BMC Cancer 2009, 9:51 doi:10.1186/1471-2407-9-51

Published: 11 February 2009

Abstract

Background

Oncoprotein HCCR-1 functions as a negative regulator of the p53 and contributes breast tumorigenesis. The serum HCCR-1 assay is useful in diagnosing breast cancer and mice transgenic for HCCR developed breast cancers. But it is unknown how HCCR-1 contributes to human breast tumorigenesis.

Methods

Oncogene HCCR-1 expression levels were determined in normal breast tissues, breast cancer tissues and cancer cell lines. We examined whether HCCR-1 protein expression in breast cancer is related to different biological characteristics, including ER, PR, p53 genotype, and HER2 status in 104 primary breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

HCCR-1 was upregulated in breast cancer cells and tissues compared with normal breast tissues. In this study, overexpression of HCCR-1 was well correlated with known breast cancer prognostic markers including the presence of steroid receptors (ER and PR), p53 mutation and high HER2 overexpression. HCCR-1 was not detected in the ER-negative, PR-negative, p53 negative and low HER2 breast cancer tissues. These data indicate that the level of HCCR-1 in breast cancer tissues is relatively well correlated with known breast cancer factors, including the HER2 overexpression, p53 mutation, and ER/PR status.

Conclusion

Determination of HCCR-1 levels as options for HER2 testing is promising although it needs further evaluation.