Expression of Proteins Involved in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as Predictors of Metastasis and Survival in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract : The purpose of this research is to investigate protein expression and promoter region DNA methylation status of six genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in relation to breast cancer lymph node metastasis, recurrence, and survival. Breast tumor tissue has been retrospectively identified from the Pathology Resource and immunohistochemical staining for all proteins has been completed. Scoring and analysis of IHC assays is ongoing. FFPE tissue cores for a subset of the IHC-stained tissues have been procured for isolation of DNA and methylation assay.