β-catenin gene mutation in invasive ductal breast cancer

Purpose: Aberrant accumulation of β-catenin plays an important role in a variety of human neoplasms. In this study we analyzed the somatic mutations of the β-catenin gene and the immunohistochemical localization of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in invasive ductal breast cancer. Materials and methods: We investigated 65 human invasive ductal breast cancer samples for somatic mutations in the exons 3, 4, 5 and 6 of β-catenin gene (N-terminal region) by the combined use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing. Sample tissues were also analyzed using β-catenin and cyclin D1 immunocytochemistry staining. Results: No β-catenin mutation was detected in any of the tumor samples. Accumulation of aberrant β-catenin protein in cellular compartments in the same breast cancer samples was confirmed with a related experiment by immunocytochemical methods. Conclusion: Our results suggest that genetic defects in β-catenin is not common in invasive ductal breast cancers, whereas mutations in other components of the Wnt signaling pathway should be considered. © 2008 Zerbinis Medical Publications