Fas ligand (fasl)‎ expression in human breast carcinoma : clinical significance and prognostic implications

Abstract EN

Background : Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) are cell surface proteins that are considered recently as key molecules in normal immune development, homeostasis and functions through induction of apoptosis to Fas / FasL bearing cells.

Despite the important role of FasL expressing cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in Fas-mediated tumor killing, FasL expressing tumor cells help malignant tumors escape immune surveillance by eliminating Fas expressing tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

The aim of this study was to investigate FasL expression immunohistochemically in breast carcinoma tissues and its correlation with the clinicopathological parameters of the disease.

Methods : FasL expression was assessed and evaluated in tumor tissue specimens of 30 females with breast carcinoma.

Correlation between FasL level and data of both clinicopathological and clinical follow up studies were investigated.

Results : Revealed that : FasL expression was detected in 80 % of the studied patient tumor specimens and was significantly associated with aging, clinical staging, histological grading, tumor size, lymph node involvement and metastasis.

Follow up of the patients for 72 months after surgery revealed that the recurrence free survival rate and total survival rate were significantly (P = 0.0001, P = 0.035) lower in FasL positive patients (37.5 %, 73.3 %) than FasL negative ones (83.3 %, 83.3 %).

FasL was detected in normal appearing hyperplastic ducts located in the same tumor quadrant, indicating that FasL may be an early signal of malignant transformation.

In conclusion, FasL expression in breast carcinoma may help in tumor evoked the immune system and may have respectable prognostic implications.