On the role of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) and neprilysin in human breast cancer.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors, ET(A)R and ET(B)R, are overexpressed in breast carcinomas. However, little is known about the relevance of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) and ET-1 degrading neprilysin (NEP). In this study, expression of ECE-1 and NEP was determined in 600 breast cancer tissue samples by immunohistochemistry; staining results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters.