ABSTRACT
We tested Tankyrase-1 mRNA expression in colon cancer patients to evaluate the prognostic role of this parameter by real-time RT-PCR in a retrospective group of 82 unselected patients with colon cancer. Paired cancer and corresponding not affected tissues were used. Laser-assisted microdissection was used to measure Tankyrase-1 mRNA in homogeneous cancer cell populations and in normal colon epithelium of the same patients. Tankyrase-1 mRNA in colon cancers, as a mean, was significantly higher than in paired not affected tissues (p<0.0001), but its level correlates inversely with a cancer progression stage. Survival analysis indicated that lower Tankyrase-1 mRNA expression in colon cancers was significantly associated to reduced patient survival (p=0.019) and disease-free interval (p=0.035), confirmed also in a multi-variate analysis.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Tankyrases/biosynthesis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Colorectal Neoplasms/mortality , Disease Progression , Female , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Profiling , Humans , Lasers , Male , Microdissection , Middle Aged , Prognosis , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Retrospective Studies , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Survival Analysis , Survival RateABSTRACT
Tankyrase promotes telomere elongation by interaction with the telomeric protein binding factor TRF1, a negative regulator of telomere extension. We measured tankyrase mRNA by real-time RT-PCR in 66 breast cancers and in paired normal tissues. Results were compared with hTERT mRNA expression. The levels of tankyrase in breast cancers were significantly higher in comparison to normal tissues (P<0.0001) and significantly related to the status of progesterone receptors. No relationship was found between tankyrase and hTERT mRNA expression in breast cancers. According to our results, tankyrase expression appeared up regulated in breast cancers.
