Fascin, an actin-bundling protein associated with cell motility, is upregulated in hormone receptor negative breast cancer

Loss of hormone receptor (HR) status in breast carcinomas is associated wit h increased tumour cell motility and invasiveness. In an immunohistological study of 58 primary breast cancers; oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) r eceptor levels were inversely correlated with the expression of fascin, an actin-bundling protein associated with cell motility (P < 0.0001 and P = 0. 0019, respectively). In addition, fascin was preferentially expressed in no n-diploid tumours (P = 0.03). In summary, the upregulation of fascin in HR- negative breast cancers may contribute to their more aggressive behaviour. (C) 2000 cancer Research campaign.