International Journal of Cancer Research1811-97271811-9735Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ijcr.2006.257.266FAT1 (hFAT) Protein in 326 Breast Cancers. Does this Adhesion Molecule Have a Role in Pathogenesis?]]>KaewpilaNantana BurnsGordon F.LeongAnthony S.Y. 3200623The immunohistological localization of human FAT1 (hFAT) protein, a recently described member of the cadherin superfamily, was evaluated in 326 breast cancers and correlated with histologic type and grade. All tumors showed diffuse staining for hFAT. Immunoexpression of the protein was generally strong in Lobular Carcinoma in situ (LCIS, n = 2) and Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS, n = 55). hFAT was also strongly immunoexpressed in all types of invasive carcinoma. Grade 3 DCIS displayed the highest hFAT intensity compared to lower grade tumors, with significant differences between grade 1 and 3 (p = 0.015) and grade 2 and 3 (p = 0.047). With invasive Ductal Carcinomas (n = 128), the difference was not as clear-cut as most tumors showed moderate (n = 63) or strong staining (n = 49), although grade 3 IDC revealed significantly decreased immunoexpression compared to grade 1 IDC (p = 0.03). These results illustrate that hFAT1 does not display the pattern of expression seen with the E-cadherin- -catenin adhesion complex; however, its overexpression and diffuse expression in both in situ and invasive carcinoma strongly suggests a role in carcinogenesis. From the known functions of FAT1 it is suggested that the concurrent loss of classical cadherins from cell-cell junctions accompanied by increased FAT1 expression contributes to loss of duct formation and increased cell migration and invasion.]]>Bryant, P.J., B. Huettner, L.I. Jr. Held, J. Ryerse and J. Szidonya,1988Drosophila. ]]>129541554Castillejo-Lopez, C., W.M. Martinez and S. Baumgartner,2004FAT-like gene of Drosophila is the true orthologue of vertebrate FAT cadherins and is involved in the formation of tubular organs. ]]>2792403424043Ciani, L., A. Patel, N.D. Allen and C. Ffrench-Constant,2003FAT1 exhibit renal slit junction abnormalities and a partially penetrant cyclopia and anophthalmia phenotype. ]]>2335753582Connoly, J.L., J. Boyages and A.J. Nixon, 199811134139Down, M., M. Power, S.I. Smith, K. Ralston, M. Spanevello, G.F. Burns and A.W. Boyd, 20055483490Dunne, J., M.H. Hanby and R. Poulsom,1995FAT the human homologue of the Drosophila fat gene that is located on chromosome 4q34-35 and encodes a putative adhesion molecule.]]>30207223Elston, C.W. and J.O. Ellis, 199119403410Gamallo, C., J. Palacios and A. Suarez, 1993142987993Hazan, R.B., G.R. Phillips, R.F. Qiao, L. Norton and S.A. Aaronson, 2000148779790Leong, A.S.Y., R.T. Sormunen, S. Vinyuvat, R.W. Hamdani and C. Suthipintawong, 2001in situ and concurrent infiltrating carcinoma. ]]>115709718Mahoney, P.A., U. Weber, P. Onofrechuk, H. Biessmann, P.J. Bryant and C.S. Goodman, 1991FAT tumor suppressor gene in Drosophila encodes a novel member of the cadherin gene superfamily. ]]>67853858Ma, D., C.H. Yang, M.A. McNeill, M.A. Simon and J.D. Axelrod,2003421543547Moeller, M.J., A. Soofi, G.S. Braun, X. Li, C. Watzl, W. Kriz and L. Holzman,2004FAT1 binds Ena/VASP proteins and is necessary for actin dynamics and cell polarization. ]]>2337693779Nieman, M.T., R.S. Prudoff, K.R. Johnson and M.J. Wheelock, 1999147631643Sherwood, D.R., J.A. Butler, J.M. Kramer and P.W. Sternberg,2005121951962Siitonen, S.M., J.T. Kononen, H.J. Helin, I.S. Rantala, K.A. Holli and J.J. Isola,1996105394402Sormunen, R., A.S.Y. Leong, J.P. Vaaraniemi, S.S.E. Fernando and S.M. Eskelinen, 1999in vitro model. ]]>187416423Tanoue, T. and M. Takeichi,2004FAT1 cadherin regulates actin dynamics and cell-cell contact. ]]>165517528Tanoue, T. and M. Takeichi, 2005FAT cadherins. ]]>11823472353Wood, B. and A.S.Y. Leong, 200335101105Yap, A.S., W.M. Brieher and B.M. Gumbiner, 199713119146Tavassoli, F.A. and P. Devilee,2003Pages: 432Pages: 432