Expression of hSTC-1 gene in peripheral blood and its correlation with micrometastases of breast cancer / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: To detect the expression of human stanniocalcin-1 (hSTC-1) mRNA in peripheral blood and tumor tissues of breast cancer patients, determine micrometastases in peripheral blood, and study the relationship between the micrometastases and malignant degree of breast cancer. Methods: The expression of hSTC-1 mRNA in peripheral blood and breast cancer tissues was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in breast cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemical method. Results: Expression of hSTC-1 mRNA was identified in breast cancer tissues from 28 of 30 patients (93.3%) and in peripheral blood from 19 of 51 patients (37.3%). Expression of hSTC-1 mRNA was not detected in the peripheral blood from 17 women without breast cancer. Expression of hSTC-1 mRNA in the peripheral blood significantly correlated with multiple clinicopathological factors (P < 0.05), including tumor size, metastasis of lymph nodes, TNM stage, and the expression of ER and VEGF. Conclusion: The expression of hSTC-1 mRNA in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients suggests the occurrence of micrometastasis. It significantly correlates with multiple clinicopathological factors which determined the prognosis of breast cancer. So hSTC-1 is proposed as a new marker for detecting micrometastasis of breast cancer in the peripheral blood.