Abstract:

Objective　To study the expression and significance of EphA2 and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer, and to explore the relationship between EphA2 and EMT in the process of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.　Methods　The expression of EphA2, E-cadherin protein, β-catenin protein and vimentin protein in 110 cases of breast cancer and 30 cases of breast fibroma tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. The relationship between EphA2, E-cadherin protein, catenin protein, vimentin protein expression was analyzed.　Results　The positive rates of EphA2, E-cadherin, β-catenin and vimentin were 20%, 90%, 26.67%and 13.33%, respectively, in 30 cases of breast fibroma tissue. The positive rates of EphA2, E-cadherin, β-catenin and vimentin were 61.82%, 34.54%, 64.54% and 68.18%, respectively, in 110 cases of breast cancer. The expression of EphA2, the low expression of E-cadherin protein, the expression of β-catenin protein and vimentin protein were significantly correlated with the clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and histological grade (P<0.05). The expression of EphA2 was lower than that of E-cadherin (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expression of β-catenin and vimentin (P<0.05).　Conclusion　EphA2, E-cadherin protein, β-catenin protein and vimentin proteins are associated with invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. EphA2 may promote EMT by regulating the expression of E-cadherin protein, β-catenin protein and vimentin protein, thus playing an important role in the process of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.

Key words: EphA2, 　Epithelial mesenchymal transition, 　Breast cancer