Expression levels of the putative zinc transporter LIV-1 are associated with a better outcome of breast cancer patients.
We investigated the expression pattern of the breast cancer associated gene LIV-1 on mRNA and protein level in 111 human breast cancer patients by in situ hybridization as well as immunohistochemistry and focused on the unknown potential of LIV-1 expression levels as a prognostic marker. To our knowledge, this is the first study on endogenous LIV-1 protein expression. Results of our study indicate that LIV-1 mRNA and protein expression levels are only weakly correlated, suggesting posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, LIV-1 mRNA quantity in combination with a positive ER status seem to represent a better marker than the progesterone receptor status according to the prognostic significance for relapse free survival (RFS). A negative correlation of LIV-1 protein levels with tumor size, grade and stage reflects an association of LIV-1 protein expression with less aggressive tumors. High LIV-1 protein expression seems to be associated with a longer relapse free and overall survival in breast cancer patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. This association, however, seems to be dependent from other prognostic markers. Our data suggest that LIV-1 is a promising candidate for a novel marker for breast cancer patients with better outcome. Furthermore, our study presents a revised cDNA sequence of LIV-1 and demonstrates the localization of endogenous LIV-1 in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany. gritkasper@yahoo.com
Grit
G
Kasper
Armin A
AA
Weiser
Andreas
A
Rump
Katrin
K
Sparbier
Edgar
E
Dahl
Arndt
A
Hartmann
Peter
P
Wild
Uta
U
Schwidetzky
Esmeralda
E
Castaños-Vélez
Kerstin
K
Lehmann
D001483:Base Sequence; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013629:Tamoxifen
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C418627:SLC39A6 protein, human; D013629:Tamoxifen