J Korean Surg Soc.  2002 Jun;62(6):463-467.

The Pattern of Expression of Phospholipase C-gamma in Benign and Malignant Tumors of the Breast

• Kim HJ
• Chung KW
• Kim SW
• Moon BI
• Ahn SJ
• Noh DY
• Yoo KY
• Choe KJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: The activation of phospholipase C (PLC) is one of the early events in various growth processes, including malignant transformation. Among PLC-isozymes, PLC-gamma is activated through direct interaction with growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. In this study, we evaluated the patterns of PLC-gamma expression in benign and malignant tumors of the breast and compared the patterns with their normal counterpart.
METHODS
Using immunoblot assay, we evaluated the patterns of expression in PLC-gamma in 20 breast cancer tissues, 13 fibroadenoma tissues, and normal tissues. The level of expression was analyzed by densitometry.
RESULTS
All of 20 breast cancer tissues and 13 fibroadenoma tissues showed overexpression of PLC-gamma when compared with their normal counterparts. The level of the PLC-gamma expression was 3.9-fold and 17.3-fold higher in fibroadenomas and breastcancers, respectively, than in normal tissues.
CONCLUSION
The result suggested that the level of PLC-gamma expression increases as the normal tissue undergoes progression to fibroadenoma, and finally to carcinoma. The pattern of expression of PLC-gamma in breast tissue implies that the PLC-gamma-mediated signal transduction may play a significant role in the progression of breast cancer from normal tissue.

Keyword

PLC-gamma; Fibroadenoma; Breast cancer

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Densitometry
Fibroadenoma
Phospholipase C gamma
Phospholipases*
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Signal Transduction
Type C Phospholipases
Phospholipase C gamma
Phospholipases
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Type C Phospholipases