Clinicopathologic significances of nuclear expression of nuclear factor-κB transcription factors in retinoblastoma.

Abstract

AIMS:

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factors family is thought to play an important role in the development of certain cancers. In this study, the clinical significance of NF-κB transcription factor expression and the MIB-1 labelling index (MIB-1 LI) were studied in retinoblastoma.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemical analysis of normal retina (n=6) and retinoblastoma tumour (n=62) specimens obtained from multiple centres was performed in order to evaluate the pathological associations of NF-κB subunits and retinoblastoma.

RESULTS:

Expression of NF-κB proteins was frequently detected in retinoblastoma but not in normal retina samples with c-Rel being the most commonly detected (61%). This protein was more frequently detected in poorly-differentiated and invasive tumours than in well-differentiated and non-invasive tumours. RelA expression in invasive tumours was also significantly higher. Furthermore, expression of c-Rel correlated positively with the MIB-1 LI in retinoblastoma, and RelA/c-Rel revealed positive correlation with RelA/RelB.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrated that expression of RelA and c-Rel proteins represents a reliable prognostic marker of retinoblastoma and that NF-κB is related to retinoblastoma tumorigenesis and progression through a non-conventional pathway. This data suggests that therapeutic strategies targeting NF-κB combined with other therapies may represent a novel approach to retinoblastoma therapy.

• Authors: Yi Qu, Fang Zhou, Xin Dai, Hongxia Wang, Jing Shi, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yan Wang, Wenbin Wei
• Journal: Journal of clinical pathology (J Clin Pathol) Vol. 64 Issue 8 Pg. 695-700 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1472-4146 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21551466 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• NF-kappa B
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel
• MIB1 ligase, human
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Topics

• Adolescent
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Infant
• Male
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)
• Prognosis
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel (metabolism)
• Retinal Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Retinoblastoma (diagnosis)
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases (metabolism)