Expression of the gastrin-releasing peptide gene in carcinomas of the breast.
Expression of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), the mammalian homologue of the amphibian bombesin, has been investigated at gene and protein level in a series of 28 primary breast carcinomas, in 6 mammary cancer cell lines and in one transplantable rat mammary carcinoma. Moderate to strong expression of GRP mRNA was detected in 5 breast carcinomas by Northern blot analysis with a pre-pro-GRP probe; 4 other cases were weakly reactive. Two of these cases also gave a specific immunocytochemical reaction for GRP, controlled with absorption experiments. Correlation with NE differentiation [as shown by chromogranins (Cg) and/or NSE and/or Grimelius positivity] was low, since only one case of breast carcinoma co-expressed GRP and Cg mRNAs. Breast cancer cell lines and a rat carcinoma gave negative results. GRP production in breast cancer did not appear to bear prognostic implications, but longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these data. As shown in small-cell lung cancer, GRP might be involved in autocrine growth control mechanisms of a group of breast carcinomas.
Pagani
A
A
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Italy.
Papotti
M
M
Sanfilippo
B
B
Bussolati
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001839:Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D010455:Peptides; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D001839:Bombesin