Aim: To investigate the expression of KLK6 protein and mRNA in primary breast carcinoma, and to evaluate its clinical significance in clinicopathological status of patients with primary breast carcinoma.
Methods: 88 patients with primary breast carcinoma chosen randomly were examined for KLK6 protein and mRNA expression by SABC immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. The association of KLK6 with the clinicopathologic features of the primary breast cancer was also analysis.
Results: The positive expression rates of KLK6 protein in breast carcinoma tissues were 78.40% (69/88). Clinicopathological parameters of breast carcinoma were associated with KLK6 protein expression. KLK6 protein was expressed less frequently in breast carcinoma tissues with lymph nodes metastasis (P<0.01) and ER(+) (P<0.05). Additionally, the mean expression level of KLK6 mRNA in cancerous tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.01). However, KLK6 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with metastasis (P<0.01) and ER status (P<0.01). The expression of KLK6 protein and mRNA in primary breast carcinoma tissues was not associated with that of CerbB-2.
Conclusion: KLK6 expression in cancerous tissues may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of primary breast carcinoma. The detection of it along with clinical staging may help to predict the prognosis of patients with primary breast carcinoma.