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Activator protein-2 in carcinogenesis with a special reference to breast cancer--a mini review.

Pellikainen JM, Kosma VM

Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Kuopio, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Activator protein-2 (AP-2) transcription factors are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. AP-2alpha has been suggested to function as a tumor suppressor in many cancers and AP-2gamma to be a marker of testicular and germ cell malignancies. At least 3 of the 5 AP-2 family members identified to date, AP-2alpha, AP-2beta and AP-2gamma, are known to be expressed in breast tissue and thought to coordinate the growth and development of the breast via regulation of several breast-related genes such as human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and estrogen receptor (ER). The function of AP-2alpha seems to be tumor suppressive in breast tissue, whereas the role of the other AP-2 family members is less well known. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AP-2 in carcinogenesis, especially in breast cancer.

Published 2 April 2007 in Int J Cancer, 120(10): 2061-7.
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