title: Down regulation of the tumor suppressor gene maspin in breast carcinoma is associated with a higher risk of distant metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maspin (mammary serpin) is a relatively novel serine protease inhibitor with tumor suppressing function in breast cancer. Maspin expression was found in normal breast epithelial cells, but was decreased during tumor progression. Only a few systematic analyses of this phenomenon have been undertaken so far. In this study we developed specific nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conditions for the detection of maspin expression in human breast carcinoma and assessed maspin's association with the clinical behavior of primary breast cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor specimens obtained from 45 primary breast cancer patients were analyzed for maspin expression by a nested RT-PCR assay. Recurrence free survival was evaluated and correlated to maspin expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maspin transcript was detected in 29 (64%) breast cancer specimens whereas no expression was found in 16 (36%) cancer specimens. This expression was unrelated to any of the established prognostic factors. However, 6 out of 8 patients who developed distant metastasis (lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone, pleura) within 3 yr after their initial diagnosis showed no maspin expression of the primary breast cancer (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of maspin expression in breast cancer seems to be associated with a short disease free survival and supports maspin's function as an indicator of tumor aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Nested RT-PCR is a sensitive method to determine maspin expression in human breast cancer tissue.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Kiel, Michaelisstrasse 16, 24105 Kiel, Germany. nmaass@email.uni-kiel.de
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maass
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hojo
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Rösel
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ikeda
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Jonat
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nagasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015843:Serpins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011506:Proteins; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015843:Serpins