NUCLEAR MATRIX PROTEINS IN WELL AND POORLY DIFFERENTIATED HUMAN BREAST-CANCER CELL-LINES

The nuclear matrix, besides providing the structural support of the nu cleus, is involved in various cellular functions of the nucleus. Nucle ar matrix proteins (NMPs), which are both tissue- and cell type-specif ic, are altered with transformation and state of differentiation. Furt hermore, NMPs have been identified as informative markers of disease s tates. Here, the NMP profiles from human breast cancer cell lines and breast tumours were analyzed using two-dimension gel electrophoresis. We identified NMPs that are associated with well and poorly differenti ated human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Five NMPs (NMBC 1 -5) were found to be exclusive for well-differentiated human breast ca ncer cells, while one NMP (NMBC-6) was found to be present only in poo rly differentiated human breast cancer cells. The identification of th ese proteins suggests the potential use of nuclear matrix proteins as prognostic indicators. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.