Expression levels of connexin 26 and NF-κB in primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes of triple negative breast cancer, and its clinical significance

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression levels of connexin 26(Cx26) and nuckar factor κB(NF-κB) in primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes of triple negative breast cancer(TNBC), and its clinical significance.

MethodsThe TNBC paraffin tissues diagnosed by postoperative pathology and molecular classification were collected.Forty-nine cases of primary lesions and 27 cases of lymph nodes metastatic lesions were divided into group A and group B, respectively.Group A included 22 cases without regional lymph node metastasis(group A1) and 27 cases with regional lymph node metastasis(group A2).The expression levels of Cx26 and NF-κB in all cases were examined using immunohistochemical staining.The relationship between Cx26 and NF-κB, and their correlations with clinical features were analyzed.

ResultsThe positive expression rates of Cx26 and NF-κB in group A2 were higher than those in group A1(P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).The positive expression rates of Cx26 and NF-κB in group B were higher those in group A1(P < 0.01).The expression level of Cx26 was correlated with the menopause state and lymph node metastasis(P < 0.01), and the NF-κB level was correlated with pTNM staging and lymph node metastasis(P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).In lymph nodes metastatic lesions, the expression of Cx26 was positively correlated with the expression of NF-κB(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsCx26 and NF-κB may co-participate in the invasion and metastasis of TNBC, and can be used as an effective indicator to predict TNBC metastasis and recurrence and evaluate clinical prognosis.