Expression of phospholipase C isozymes in human breast cancer and their clinical significance

Phospholipase C (PLC) regulates a number of cellular behaviours including cell motility, cell transformation, differentiation and cell growth. PLC plays a regulatory role in cancer cells partly by acting as signalling intermediates for cytokines such as EGF and interleukins. The current study examined the expression of the PLC isozymes in human breast cancer and corresponding clinical relevance. Transcript levels of human PLC-alpha,-beta 1,-delta,-epsilon, and -gamma 1 in human breast cancer tissues were quantitatively determined by real-time PCR. Immunochemical staining was performed for PLC-delta. The clinical relevance was analysed with clinic pathological information. Mammary tissues widely expressed PLC-a,-beta 1,-delta,-e, and -gamma 1. Significantly high levels of PLC-beta 1 and-epsilon were seen in breast cancer tissues in comparison with normal mammary gland tissues. PLC-gamma l however, showed marginally low levels in tumour tissues. No significant difference was seen in the expression of the PLC isozymes in tumours with lymph node metastases. Moderately and poorly differentiated breast tumours (grade 2 and grade 3) had significantly higher levels of PLC-gamma 1, compared with well differentiated tumours. High levels of PLC-delta were significantly correlated with a shorter disease-free survival. The altered expression of other isozymes had no correlation with the survival. It is concluded that mammary tissues differentially expressed PLC isozymes. These isozymes have certain implications in the disease development and progression, with PLC-delta showing a significant correlation with shorter disease-free survival.