1R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine 2Morphological Laboratory “BIONTEC”, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine 3Municipal Oncocenter, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine 4Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Abstract. Aim: To assess the correlation between the expression profiles of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1/2), Ki-67 nuclear antigen (Ki-67) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in human
breast adenocarcinomas. Methods: The expression pattern of S6K1/2, Ki-67 and PCNA has been investigated by immunohistochemical analysis of formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections
of 40 human breast adenocarcinomas. Analysis was performed using specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against S6K2, Ki-67 and PCNA followed by semi-quantitative
measurements. Results: Positive correlation between nuclear staining for S6K2 and PCNA (p ≤ 0.01) or Ki-67 (p ≤ 0.01) in breast cancer cells has been detected. No significant
correlation in nuclear staining was observed between S6K1 and PCNA or Ki-67. In addition, we have detected an increase in S6K2 expression in the nuclei of cancer cells localized predominantly in
peripheral areas of the tumor contacting with normal tissue. Conclusion: The accumulation of S6K2, but not S6K1, in the nuclei of cancer cells and the correlation with the expression of PCNA
and Ki-67 suggest the involvement of S6K2 in the regulation of malignant growth.
Key Words:S6K1, S6K2, Ki-67, PCNA, immunohistochemistry, breast adenocarcinoma.