Expression of the oestrogen regulated pNR-2 mRNA in human breast cancer: relation to oestrogen receptor mRNA levels and response to tamoxifen therapy.
The pNR-2 mRNA is regulated by oestrogens in cell lines established from metastatic human breast cancer cells. The levels of the pNR-2 and oestrogen receptor RNAs have been measured in 96 tumour samples from patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Oestrogen receptor mRNA was detected in 90% of the 60 primary breast tumour samples from patients not receiving endocrine therapy at the time of surgery, whereas the pNR-2 RNA was detected in 57%. In primary tumours the expression of pNR-2 was entirely dependent upon oestrogen receptor RNA expression. When the 60 primary tumours were considered, pNR-2 and oestrogen receptor mRNA levels were significantly correlated. There was no significant correlation for pNR-2 positive tumours. pNR-2 mRNA levels were similar in tumours of pre- and post-menopausal patients and were independent of tumour differentiation and nodal status. Oestrogen receptor and pNR-2 mRNA levels were also measured in 21 tumour samples from patients receiving primary tamoxifen therapy. Eleven of these had shown an objective response and a significantly larger number of tumours from these patients contained pNR-2 mRNA than from patients who did not respond (chi 2 = 6.08, P less than 0.025).
Henry
J A
JA
Department of Pathology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, UK.
Nicholson
S
S
Hennessy
C
C
Lennard
T W
TW
May
F E
FE
Westley
B R
BR
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000032:analysis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen