Journal
CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
Volume 34, Issue 4, Pages 303-307Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9120(01)00220-X
Keywords
maspin; breast cancer; RT-PCR; tumor suppressor; metastasis
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Background: Maspin (mammary serpin) is a relatively novel serine protease inhibitor with tumor suppressing function in breast cancer. Maspin expression was found in normal breast epithelial cells, but was decreased during tumor progression. Only a few systematic analyses of this phenomenon have been undertaken so far. In this study we developed specific nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conditions for the detection of maspin expression in human breast carcinoma and assessed maspin's association with the clinical behavior of primary breast cancers. Methods: Tumor specimens obtained from 45 primary breast cancer patients were analyzed for maspin expression by a nested RT-PCR assay. Recurrence free survival was evaluated and correlated to maspin expression. Results: The maspin transcript was detected in 29 (64%) breast cancer specimens whereas no expression was found in 16 (36%) cancer specimens. This expression was unrelated to any of the established prognostic factors. However, 6 out of 8 patients who developed distant metastasis (lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone, pleura) within 3 yr after their initial diagnosis showed no maspin expression of the primary breast cancer (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The lack of maspin expression in breast cancer seems to be associated with a short disease free survival and supports maspin's function as an indicator of turner aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Nested RT-PCR is a sensitive method to determine maspin expression in human breast cancer tissue. (C) 2001 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.
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