BRCA1 gene expression in breast cancer in Kuwait: correlation with prognostic parameters.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the BRCA1 gene expression in breast cancer in Kuwait, and compared it with other known prognostic factors for the disease.


METHODS
Forty-eight random samples of archival paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues were studied for BRCA1 gene expression. Immunohistochemical method utilizing antibodies against different epitopes on the BRCA1 protein was used to study BRCA1 protein expression. In addition, for 29 patients, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect BRCA1 mRNA expression. BRCA1 expression was correlated with age, histological type and grade of breast cancer, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and C-erbB-2 expression.


RESULTS
No demonstrable BRCA1 mRNA and protein expression was found in 79 and 83% of the breast cancer tissues, respectively. A positive relationship was demonstrated between lack of BRCA1 (mRNA and protein) expression and high histological grade, negative estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and overexpression of C-erbB-2 in the breast cancer tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated lack of BRCA1 gene expression (mRNA and protein) in the majority of breast cancers in Kuwait and confirmed the inverse relationship between BRCA1 expression and parameters that determine poor prognosis in breast cancer.
Amirrad
M
M
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Al-Mulla
F
F
Varadharaj
G
G
John
B
B
Saji
T
T
Anim
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone