Clinico-pathological and biological significance of human kallikrein gene 6 mRNA expression in breast cancer / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

objective To quantify the expression of kallikrein gene 6 (KLK6) in malignant and benign breast tissues and to statistically analyze the relationship between KLK6 expression levels and the clinico-pathological variables in patients with breast cancer. Method Paired breast tissue samples of cancerous and corresponding non-cancerous tissues were obtained from 48 patients with breast cancer who underwent surgical resection. Quantitative analysis of KLK6 mRNA expression was done using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The relationship between KLK6 expression intensity and various clinico-pathological variables was analyzed. In addition, the technique of small interfering RNA-mediated gene silencing was used to suppress the KLK6 expression in MCF-7, and to investigate the effects of KLK6 on cell proliferation rate and cell cycle. Results KLK6 mRNA over expression was found in cancerous tissues in 35 out of 48 patients (73%) as compared with normal breast tissue. The mean expression level of KLK6 mRNA in cancerous tissues was significantly higher than that in non-cancerous tissues (P