FGF7 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BREAST CARCINOMAS

FGFs, especially FGF7, are thought to play an important role in the st roma-epithelium interactions that take place in several tissues, inclu ding the prostate and mammary glands. Using an immunohistochemistry ap proach, FGF7 protein expression was measured in a series of 80 human b reast carcinomas. FGF7 was found to be expressed in two-thirds of case s studied, either in the stroma or in the tumour cells. Although it di d not reach significance level, a tendency was noted for FGF7 expressi on to be associated with the most differentiated and least aggressive tumours. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.