Purpose: Evaluate p7 expression in human breast cancer and determine whether chemotherapy and radiation therapy effect a change in p7 expression.
Experimental design: Using a p7-specific monoclonal antibody with immunohistochemistry and Western immunoblot analyses to assess p7 expression in archival, frozen breast cancer specimens both before and after therapy.
Results: A novel 7 kDa protein (p7), originally identified in multidrug-resistant ovarian and breast cancer cell lines, was found to be expressed in 21 of 64 (32%) primary, unselected human breast cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry with the use of a p7-specific monoclonal antibody, 1D7. P7 was observed in malignant cells but not in other types of cells in the breast tissue. Western blot analysis confirmed the 7 kDa polypeptide in p7-positive breast carcinomas identified by immunohistochemistry. P7 expression was significantly associated with breast cancers having distant metastasis and/or local recurrence (P = 0.027, Fisher's exact test). In addition, p7 expression was significantly increased in post-treatment breast cancer biopsy specimens compared with pretreatment breast cancer biopsy specimens in patients with locally advanced breast cancer after 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy and radiation therapy [2 of 15 (13%) pretreatment breast cancers compared with 8 of 15 (53%) post-treatment breast cancers; P = 0.016, McNemar's test].
Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that expression of p7 is associated with malignant tumor cells in primary breast cancers, especially those showing recurrent or metastatic disease. Its specific association with the malignant phenotype suggests it may have potential for novel target-based therapies. The markedly increased expression in patients with locally advanced disease after neoadjuvant therapy suggests a role for p7 in treatment outcome.