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Expression of ΔDNMT3B variants and its association with estrogen/progestogen receptor status in breast cancer

  • Breast Cancer
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Cancer Research

Abstract

Objective

Our previous study has showed that ΔDNMT3B is the predominant form of DNMT3B in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we aimed to explore the expression patterns of the ΔDNMT3B variants in breast cancer and to identify whether the pattern was similar to that in NSCLC or not and its clinical significance.

Methods

Expression of seven ΔDNMT3B variants in 59 breast cancer and the corresponding normal tissue was measured using RT-PCR. The correlations between the expressions of ΔDNMT3B variants and the clinical parameters including ER/PR status, clincopathologic feature and survivals were analyzed.

Results

There were significant differences in the expression ratios of ΔDNMT3B1-7 variants between breast cancer tissues and normal tissues (P<0.001). The positive ratio of ΔDNMT3B1-7 variants were 66%, 71%, 17%, 51%, 76.2%, 50% and 61% in tumor tissue, respectively; while 16%, 8.4%, 3.38%, 3.38%, 11.8%, 13.5% and 5.08% in the corresponding normal tissue, which was different from the pattern of ΔDNMT3B1-7 expression in NSCLC (62%, 76%, 2.5%, 46%, 18%, 27% and 16% in tumor tissue, respectively; while 18%, 11%, 0%, 3.3%, 0%, 0% and 0% in normal lung tissue, respectively; P<0.0001). Expressions of ΔDNMT3B2, 3B4 and 3B7 were higher in the patients with negative estrogen receptor (ER) than those with positive estrogen receptor (P=0.035, P=0.0141 and P=0.0219, respectively). ΔDNMT3B7 expression was higher for the patients with negative progestogen receptor (PR) compared to those with positive progestogen receptor (P=0.0379). Expression ratio of ΔDNMT3B5 in stage III tumors is lower than that in stage I/II ones (P= 0.041). But we did not find any relation between the ΔDNMT3B variants and the patients’ survival.

Conclusion

The pattern of ΔDNMT3B variants in breast cancer is different from that in NSCLC. Expressions of ΔDNMT3B2, 3B4 and 3B7 are associated with estrogen receptors status. While ΔDNMT3B7 is associated with progestogen receptor. No relation between the ΔDNMT3B variants and the patients’ survival were found.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Thoracic Medical Oncology, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China

    Ning-hong Liu, Lu Yang, Ming-lei Zhuo, Jie Wang, Shu-hang Wang, Jun Zhao & Hua Bai

Authors
  1. Ning-hong Liu
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  2. Lu Yang
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  3. Ming-lei Zhuo
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  4. Jie Wang
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  5. Shu-hang Wang
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  6. Jun Zhao
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  7. Hua Bai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shu-hang Wang.

Additional information

This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30572104, 30772472).

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Liu, Nh., Yang, L., Zhuo, Ml. et al. Expression of ΔDNMT3B variants and its association with estrogen/progestogen receptor status in breast cancer. Chin. J. Cancer Res. 21, 229–234 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-009-0229-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-009-0229-y

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