Prognostic significance of glycoprotein pMQ1 in breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background A novel glycoprotein, pMQ1, is positively correlated with increasing histological grade in malignant astrocytomas. Cerebral metastases from breast cancer have also been found to contain pMQ1-positive cells. This study aimed to determine the role of pMQ1 in primary breast cancer. Methods Breast cancer specimens were analysed for pMQ1 by immunohistochemistry. The expression of pMQ1 was correlated with conventional prognostic indicators. Kaplan–Meier analyses were performed to compare clinical outcome between pMQ1-positive and pMQ1-negative tumours. Results pMQ1 was expressed in most of the breast cancer specimens. The surrounding normal tissue margins and benign breast tissues always lacked pMQ1 expression. A significant positive correlation was observed between pMQ1 expression and histological grade, the presence of lymphovascular invasion and Nottingham Prognostic Index. Cancers that were pMQ1 positive were significantly more likely to develop a local recurrence. Conclusion pMQ1 appears to be a tumour-associated protein. The positive correlation of pMQ1 with histological grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion and Nottingham Prognostic Index suggests that it confers an adverse prognosis.