Fig. 7

The TrkA/CD44v3 complex is formed in PR-negative breast cancer cells and tumors. TrkA/CD44v3 complex formation was measured in SUM159-PT (triple negative—i.e., ERα-, PR-, and Her2-) cells (A), T47-D (luminal A—i.e., ERα+, PR+, and Her2-) cells (B), BT-474 (luminal B—ERα+, PR+, and Her2+) cells (C), HCC-1954 (Her2-like—ERα-, PR-, and Her2+) cells (D), and 150 tumor patient samples obtained from US BioMax (HBre-Duc150Sur01) (E, F) using the proximity ligation assay (PLA). For breast cancer cell lines, quantification of the PLA results was performed using ImageJ software (30 randomly chosen fields per condition of three different experiments). Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s posttest. The error bars represent the standard error of the mean (S.E.M.); * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; ns, not significant. Representative micrograph of PLA staining of normal tissue (E, 1) and breast tumors (E, 2 and 3). For PLA, the signals were classified into 4 categories ranging from no signal (E,2) to a high intensity signal (E,3). The scoring for TrkA/CD44v3 PLA staining is reported in Table (F) according to estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her2 expression and triple-negative status (absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2 overexpression). NA, information not available