ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the expression of zinc finger with KRAB and SCAN domains 3 (ZKSCAN3) in breast cancer tissues and its clinical significance. Methods: The expression of ZKSCAN3 in 120 specimens of human breast cancer tissues and 60 specimens of adjacent para-cancerous tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival was analyzed. The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to further detect the expressions of ZKSCAN3 mRNA and protein in breast cancer tissues and the adjacent para-cancerous tissues. Results: The positive expression rate of ZKSCAN3 protein in breast cancer tissues [74% (89/120)] was higher than that in the adjacent para-cancerous tissues [37% (22/60)] (P < 0.001). The expression of ZKSCAN3 protein was correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and clinical stage of breast cancer (all P < 0.05). The overall survival rate of patient with ZKSCAN3-positive breast cancer was significantly lower than that of patient with ZKSCAN3-negative breast cancer (P = 0.040). The expression levels of ZKSCAN3 mRNA and protein in breast cancer tissues were higher than those in the adjacent para-cancerous tissues (both P < 0.01). Conclusion: ZKSCAN 3 is associated with the occurrence, progression and metastasis of breast cancer, so it may be an oncogene of breast cancer.