This study was designed to investigate the expression of four actin-binding proteins, α-actinin-4, cofilin 1, fascin and elongation factor 1-α 2 (eEF1A2), in samples of breast cancer from 112 patients with different stages of breast cancer (stages T0–T1, T2 and T3) compared with normal control tissues (n = 33). Levels of eEF1A2 and α-actinin-4 mRNA appeared to be unrelated to tumour size, except for a significant down-regulation of α-actinin-4 mRNA in T3 cases. Significant up-regulation of cofilin 1 mRNA was associated with stages T0–T1 and T2; up-regulation seen at stage T3 was not significant compared with control tissue. Fascin mRNA levels were significantly reduced at all three tumour stages (T0–T1, T2 and T3) compared with control tissue. In conclusion, some components of the actin cytoskeletal system might hold significant potential as targets in future cancer therapies.
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