Tissue microarray analysis of eIF4E and its downstream effector proteins in human breast cancer
2009

Study of eIF4E in Breast Cancer

Sample size: 38 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Heather E Kleiner, Krishnan Prasad, Jesse Tubbs, Mark Smith, Carol Meschonat, Runhua Shi, Mary Lowery-Nordberg, Patrick Adegboyega, Marcia Unger, James Cardelli, Quyen Chu, J Michael Mathis, John Clifford, Arrigo De Benedetti, Benjamin D Li

Primary Institution: Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSUHSC-Shreveport

Hypothesis

The study aims to validate whether tissue microarray (TMA) analysis is more efficient than traditional western blot analysis for assessing eIF4E and its downstream proteins in breast cancer.

Conclusion

The TMA technique yields similar results to the western blot technique and is more efficient for evaluating multiple downstream products of eIF4E.

Supporting Evidence

  • eIF4E levels correlated strongly with c-Myc, cyclin D1, TLK1B, VEGF, and ODC.
  • Western blot comparisons of eIF4E vs. TLK1B were consistent with the immunohistochemical results.
  • eIF4E expression was independent of ER, PR, and HER-2/neu.

Takeaway

This study looked at a protein called eIF4E in breast cancer and found that using a special tissue test (TMA) can help doctors see how it relates to other important proteins in cancer.

Methodology

Breast cancer specimens were analyzed using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry to assess eIF4E and its downstream proteins.

Limitations

The study relied on archived paraffin-embedded tissues, which may not represent fresh-frozen samples.

Participant Demographics

The study included breast cancer patients with a range of tumor stages.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.004

Statistical Significance

p ≤ 0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1756-9966-28-5

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