The expression patterns of STAT-3, Phosphorylated STAT-3, P38 MAP-Kinase and Phosphorylated P38 MAP-KINASE in triple negative breast cancers and their prognostic significance

THE EXPRESSION PATTERNS OF STAT-3, PHOSPHORYLATED STAT-3, P38 MAP-KINASE AND PHOSPHORYLATED P38 MAP-KINASE IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCERS AND THEIR PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCEAIM: Triple negative breast cancers behave diffrently from other breast cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expressions and prognostic significance of STAT-3, p38 MAPK ve EGFR in triple negative breast cancers which may be related with agressive clinical behaviour.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty six triple negative breast cancer patients were taken into the study. Twenty ER/ PR positive, cerb B2 negative and 20 ER/PR negative, cerb B2 positive breast cancer patients were chosen as control group.RESULTS: In 31 of patients (55.4%) cytoplasmic STAT-3 expression was detected. Fourteen (%25) patients had cytoplasmic and 10 patients (17.9%) had nucleer phosphorylated STAT-3 expressions. In 13 patients (23.2%) cytoplasmic and in 9 patients (16.1%) nucleer p38 MAPK expressions were observed. Cytoplasmic fosforile p38 MAPK expression was present in 13 patients (23.2%) while no nucleer expression was detected. EGFR expression was observed in 10 patients (17.9%). Triple negative breast cencer patients had more commonly expressed cytoplasmic STAT-3 and nucleer phosphorylated STAT-3 compared to controls. Similarly, cytoplasmic STAT-3 and nucleer phosphorylated STAT-3 expressions had more commonly detected in basal like tumors. Nucleer phosphorylated STAT-3 expression was higher in node positive patients. EGFR expression was correlated with cytoplasmic STAT-3 and cytoplasmic p38 MAPK expressions. Patients with EGFR expression had shorter DFS times while there was no difference in overall survival.CONCLUSION: We found cytoplasmic STAT-3 and nucleer phosphorylated STAT-3 were more commonly expressed in triple negative tumors. EGFR cascade was found in a close relation with STAT-3 and p38 MAPK pathways in these tumors. However, longer follow-up periods are required to evaluate the exact impact on prognosis.