[Expression of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin in premalignant lesion and carcinoma of breast and the significance thereof].

Objective: To investigate the expression of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin, 2 kinds of centrosome proteins, in premalignant lesion and carcinoma of breast and the significance thereof.

Methods: Forty specimens of premalignant lesions of breast, 40 specimens of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast, 40 specimens of intraductal carcinoma (IDC), and 30 specimens of normal breast tissues were obtained during operation. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the protein expression of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin, and the percentages of ki67 positive cells. Western blotting was used to examine the mRNA expression of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin.

Results: The protein and mRNA expression values of alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin in breast carcinoma were higher than those in the premalignant lesions and normal breast tissues with significant differences between the premalignant lesions and normal breast torques and without significant differences between infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast and IDC. The ki67 positive rates of the infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast group, IDC group, premalignant lesion group, and normal breast tissues group were 16.0%, 37.0%, 53.6%, and 67.8% (P = 0.001). A positive correlation existed between the expression of alpha-tubulin and the expression of gamma-tubulin in the same case and the same group (all P = 0.00) and there was no significant correlation between the expression of alpha-tubulin and the expression of gamma-tubulin in the same case and the same group (all P > 0.05). Both the expression of alpha-tubulin and the expression of gamma-tubulin were significantly associated with the prognosis.

Conclusions: Centrosome protein is one of the distinct phenotypes of breast cancer cells. Aberration of centrosome proteins may be used to screen high risk cases of breast carcinoma and to estimate the prognosis.