Correlation of CD71 transferrin receptor expression with ICAM-1 adhesion molecule expression by breast cancer cells

Background. Transferrin receptor 1 (CD71) plays a vital role in regulating cellular iron import. Cancer cells aberrantly express transferrin receptor 1 (CD71). Expression of CD71 receptors influences many aspects of tumorigenesis. Studying the expression of CD71 in breast cancer cells may reveal the peculiarities of tumor biology in order to select a priority type of drug treatment.

Aim. Study the CD71 phenotype of breast cancer cells and evaluate its relationship with adhesion molecules.

Materials and methods. We studied tumor samples obtained from breast cancer patients who were treated at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology. On cryostat sections of the tumor, the CD71 phenotype (transfecrrin receptors), CD54 phenotype (intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1), and CD29 phenotype (common β-subunit of VLA antigens) were assessed using immunofluorescence. A ZEISS luminescent microscope (AXIOSKOP, Germany) was used. The assessment was performed using a semi-quantitative method: two types of positive reaction were identified according to Hammerling (mosaic and monomomorphic). Using contingency tables (Fisher’s exact test or Pearson’s χ2 test), the correlation between the expression of transferrin receptor molecules and adhesion molecules was studied.

Results. The phenotype of breast cancer corresponded to CD71 monomorphic, which was noted in 64.4 % of samples (n = 61). Adhesion molecules were expressed in the majority of samples. β-1 CD29 integrins are presented monomorphically in 51.6 %. Expressing tumor adhesion molecules ICAM-1 in 37 cases showed a monomorphic type of receptor expression, and in 17 cases – mosaic. The expression of CD71 molecules was significantly associated with the expression of CD54 adhesion receptors. This was that CD71 positive tumors more often demonstrated expression of the CD54 receptor and this was expressed in a monomorphic type of reaction, which was 33 % versus 10.5 % (0.293, p = 0.008). With the mosaic CD71 phenotype, the proportion of tumors mosaically expressing CD29 β1-integrin molecules was 80.0 %, while with the CD71 monomorphic phenotype it was 33.3 %, in most cases (52.4 %) tumors with monomorphic expression of CD29 were observed (versus 20.0 % for mosaic phenotype).

Conclusion. Breast cancer cells are characterized by an overexpression phenotype of CD71, which is correlated with the expression of CD54 adhesion molecule (ICAM-1). The monomorphic expression of β1-integrin molecules, which occurs in CD71 positive tumors (with a monomorphic type of reaction), indicates that these cells have a higher metastatic potential.

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