Expression of nerve growth factor receptors and their prognostic value in human breast cancer

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been shown recently to be mitogenic for human breast cancer cells. In the present study, we have assayed the expression of NGF receptors (NGPRs: TrkA and p75) mRNAs in 363 human primary breast ca ncers, using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. NGFRs were f ound in all of the tumor biopsies. TrkA and p75 were positively correlated and were respectively associated with the histoprognostic grading and the t umor type. NGFRs were both related to progesterone receptors. In univariate analyses, TrkA (> upper quartile) was associated with longer overall survi val. Histoprognostic grading, tumor size, node involvement, and steroid rec eptors were also prognostic factors, In Cox multivariate analyses, TrkA was not a prognostic parameter. This study demonstrates the expression of NGFR s in breast cancer and points out that patients with high levels of TrkA ha ve a more favorable overall survival prognosis.