A new approach allowing an early prognosis in breast cancer: the ratio of estrogen receptor (ER) ligand binding activity to the ER-specific mRNA level.
We have performed a quantitative analysis of steady-state levels of ER-mRNA for 88 untreated, primary breast carcinomas. We compared the amount of specific mRNA with the amount of ER receptor measured, through ligand binding activity, by calculating the ratio R = [ER-protein/ER-mRNA]. This analysis showed that the relative level of ER-mRNA displayed a large range of values partly related to the concentration of ER-protein. We found a greater percentage of tumors with a high R ratio value in the tumor population containing elevated levels of ER-protein. A statistical analysis performed on a homogeneous population of 63 patients shows no correlation between the R ratio, lymph-node involvement and histological grade. However, R appears to be significantly related to the risk of relapse within a relatively short period of time following the first observation. An R value higher than 1.5 appears to constitute a significant and early prognostic factor of recurrence (P = 0.003).
Laboratory of Molecular Oncology IRSC, Villejuif, France.
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May
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H
Mouriesse
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May-Levin
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Contesso
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JC
Delarue
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008593:Menopause; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D004967:Estrogens; D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen