ABSTRACT
AIMS: Neurofibromin 1 (NF1) as a tumour suppressor gene can give rise to several transcripts by an alternative splicing event, generated at least for CELF cofactors. At present, the NF1 isoforms and CELF splicing transcripts in sporadic breast cancer are unknown. The aim of the authors was to detect NF1 gene expression, the NF1 isoform ratio and the CELF transcripts present in sporadic breast cancer. METHODS: Neurofibromin and RAS expression were analysed on tissue microarrays containing sporadic breast cancer (n=22), benign lesions (n=18, including six fibroadenomas, six fibrocystic changes and six ductal hyperplasias) and normal breast tissue (n=6) by immunohistochemistry assay. NF1 and CELF 3-6 RNA expression was performed by end point reverse transcription-PCR in the breast samples. RESULTS: NF1 and RAS expression in breast tissues showed no differential expression by immunohistochemistry results. Interestingly, the authors observed a shift transition in the isoform transcripts, from type II in normal breast tissue to type I isoform in breast carcinomas. CELF cofactor expression failed to be related with the shift transition of NF1 in breast tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that there is a tendency for an NF1 expression shift transition from type II to type I isoform, which could comprise a significant event in the development and progression of sporadic breast cancer. This shift transition may not be related with CELF cofactors.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/genetics , CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta/genetics , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Neurofibromin 1/genetics , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta/metabolism , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/genetics , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology , Disease Progression , Female , Fibroadenoma/genetics , Fibroadenoma/metabolism , Fibroadenoma/pathology , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/genetics , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/metabolism , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/pathology , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Middle Aged , Neurofibromin 1/metabolism , Protein Isoforms , Tissue Array Analysis , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and conjunctiva cancer is controversial. HPV detection will provide more information about the role of this infectious agent in the biology of conjunctiva cancer. In the present study, DNA extracted and purified from 36 Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinomas (CSCC) was evaluated by PCR for HPV DNA sequences. The results were correlated with the clinical and histopathological variables. RESULTS: The results showed that HPV DNA was present in 8 CSCC samples (22%); HPV16 was the sole type detected. Significant association was found between HPV detection and the limbus tumor subtype (p = 0.03). All the samples were non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The HPV presence in CSCC from Mexican patients is not a common event.
