PTEN/PI3K/AKT Protein Expressions Are Related With Clinicopathologic Features And Prognosis Of Breast Cancer With Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis

ObjectiveTo explore the relations between PTEN/PI3K/AKT expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in breast cancer patients with and without axillary lymph node metastasis(LNM).MethodsTissues and follow-up data from 142 patients with(LNM group)and 154 without(non-LNM group)metastases were collected.Expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT was detected using immunohistochemistry staining.ResultsWith axillary LNM,the positive rate of PTEN was reduced,whereas that of PI3 K and AKT was increased.Expression of AKT was negatively correlated with PTEN expression but positively correlated with PI3 K expression.Apparent correlations were detected between AKT and axillary LNM with a tumor size of 2cm or less;between PTEN,PI3 K,and AKT and axillary LNM in stage T1 or T2 breast cancer and invasive carcinoma of a nonspecial type;and between PTEN and AKT and axillary LNM of histologic grade I or II tumors and non–triple-negative breast cancer(all P < 0.05).In the LNM group,the 5-year survival rate of patients with PTEN-positive tumors was higher than that of patients with PTEN-negative lesions;whereas in the non-LNM group,the 5-year survival rate of patients with AKT-positive tumors was lower than that of patients with AKT-negative lesions(both P < 0.05).Cox regression analysis showed that PTEN expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with LNM;AKT expression,tumor diameter,pathological grade,and pathological type were independent prognostic factors for patients without LNM.In conclusion,TEN/PI3K/AKT proteins are related to the clinicopathological features and prognosis of breast cancer with axillary LNM.ConclusionPTEN/PI3K/AKT proteins are related with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of breast cancer with axillary LNM.