Mitogen-inducible gene-2 (MIG2) and migfilin expression is reduced in samples of human breast cancer

Background: Cell adhesion proteins that connect each cell to neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix play a fundamental role in metastasis. Mitogen-inducible gene-2 (MIG2), is a cell-matrix adhesion protein, which through migfilin, interacts with filamin-A, being linked to actin cytoskeleton. Aim: Recent studies have implicated both MIG2 and migfilin in cancer, but little is known regarding their expression in breast cancer. In this study, we investigated this topic. Materials and Methods: mRNA and protein expression was examined in 30 breast cancer samples and compared to that of normal adjacent tissue using real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. Results: Our results showed that expression of MIG2 and migfilin was significantly reduced in the majority of the breast cancer tissues compared to normal tissues regardless of metastatic status and disease stage. Conclusion: Both MIG2 and migfilin are down-regulated in breast cancer.