Associations between Notch-2, Akt-1 and HER2/neu expression in invasive human breast cancer: a tissue microarray immunophenotypic analysis on 98 patients

Objective: We aimed to investigate the existence of associations between well-established and newly recognized biological and phenotypic features of breast cancer involved in tumor progression and prognosis. Methods: Ninety-eight cases of invasive breast cancer were assessed for the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki-67, HER2, Akt-1, and Notch-2, using the tissue microarray technique. Data regarding tumor histotype, histological grade, tumor size and lymph node status were collected for each patient and included in the analysis. Results: Several significant associations between histological and/or immunophenotypic features came from the analysis of our data. Positive associations were observed between estrogen and progesterone receptors, tumor grade and proliferation index, tumor grade and HER2, Akt-1 and estrogen receptors, and Notch-2 and HER2. Inverse associations were noted between hormone receptors and tumor grade, hormone receptors and HER2, Akt-1 and tumor grade, and Akt-1 and nodal invasion. Conclusions: Our results, showing the existence of a number of estrogen receptor-positive tumors with Akt-1 expression, better degree of differentiation, and no lymph node involvement, along with the presence of HER2-positive tumors with strong Notch-2 expression, support the role of Notch and Akt in breast cancer progression and suggest that they may also represent new appealing therapeutic targets.