Expression of carbonic anhydrase IX in breast is associated with malignant tissues and is related to overexpression of c-erbB2

• Published in: The Journal of pathology Vol. 197; no. 3; pp. 314 - 321
• Main Authors: Bartošová, Mária, Parkkila, Seppo, Pohlodek, Kamil, Karttunen, Tuomo J., Galbavý, Štefan, Mucha, Vojtech, Harris, Adrian L., Pastorek, Jaromír, Pastoreková, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-07-2002; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, Neoplasm; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Breast - chemistry; breast carcinogenesis; Breast Neoplasms - chemistry; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; c-erbB2; Carbonic Anhydrase IX; Carbonic Anhydrases - analysis; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Genes, erbB-2; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors - analysis; Immunohistochemistry; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; semi-quantitative RT-PCR; Tumors; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Carcinoma; Enzyme; Gene overexpression; Lyases; Tumoral marker; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Carcinogenesis; Polymerase chain reaction; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; C-Onc gene; Carbonate dehydratase; Mammary gland; Benign neoplasm; Molecular biology; Carbon-oxygen lyases; Protooncogene; Hydro-lyases
• ISSN: 0022-3417; 1096-9896
• DOI: 10.1002/path.1120

CA IX is a tumour‐associated carbonic anhydrase with proposed roles in pH modulation and intercellular communication. Its distribution was examined in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues and compared with expression of breast tumour markers including oestrogen receptor, c‐erbB2, c‐erbB3 and CD44. Tissue specimens were analysed using immunohistochemistry and/or reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). CA IX was detected by IHC in 12/26 (46%) malignant tissues, 4/36 (11%) benign lesions, but not in 10 normal breasts. Staining was mostly confined to plasma membranes of abnormal epithelial cells, but in five cases was found in adjacent stroma. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR detected CA9 mRNA in 25/39 (64%) malignant tumours, 11/33 (33%) benign lesions, but in none of three normal breasts. Comparative RT‐PCR analysis of malignant tissues revealed a relationship between CA9 positivity and c‐erbB2 overexpression (p=0.05). Moreover, CA9‐positive specimens displayed a significantly higher median level of c‐erbB2 than CA9‐negative ones (p=0.02). No significant association was found with the other markers. The results of this study support the possible importance of CA IX for breast carcinogenesis and suggest its potential use as a breast tumour marker. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.