Background: GPIbalpha is the von Willebrand factor binding subunit of the GPIb/VI/IX receptor of platelets. We have recently demonstrated that GPIbalpha and the other receptor subunits of this platelet complex are aberrantly expressed on the surface of breast cancer cell lines in a functional form. The current study examines the clinicopathological correlates of GPIbalpha expression in human breast cancer.
Materials and methods: GPIbalpha expression was examined in a retrospective series of human breast cancers using immunohistochemistry.
Results: We found that of 98 primary breast cancers, 61 (62.2%) expressed GPIbalpha. The presence of the receptor did not correlate with any known prognostic variables including age, tumour size, or number of involved lymph nodes. GPIbalpha expression was not related to overall survival when the group was considered as a whole. However, it was prognostically important when considered in relation to the menopausal status of patients.
Conclusion: We conclude that GPIbalpha immunoreactivity does not appear to be of prognostic significance overall, but may be important in a subset of breast cancer patients.