Correlation between ß catenin expression and proliferation rate in breast cancer cell lines

SUMMARYIn this study the expression of ß catenin and phospho ß catenin were examined immunocytochemicaly in MDA-MB 231, MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cell lines. In MDA-MB 231 cells ß catenin expression was observed in the nucleus. Phospho ß catenin expression was observed in the nucleus and perinuclear area of some cells. ß catenin expression was localized in the cell membrane in MCF-7 cells, whereas phospho ß catenin expression wasn?t observed in these cells. In T47D cells, ß catenin expression was localized in the cell membrane and phospho ß catenin expression was weakly observed in the cell membrane of a few cells. We examined cell proliferation rate immunocytochemically using BrdU proliferation marker and we observed the highest proliferation rate in MDA-MB 231 cells. The lowest proliferation rate was observed in T47D cell lines.In conclusion, higher proliferation rate and nuclear localization of ß catenin expression in MDA-MB 231 cells is compatible with its malign character compared to MCF-7 and T47D cells.