title: Correlation of nm23-H1 gene expression with clinical outcome in patients with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conflicting results exist regarding the significance of the metastasis suppressor gene nm23-H1 in cancer patients. Initial results from a study done by our group were more indicative of its negative prognostic role in breast cancer. Our aim was to examine further its significance in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the semi-quantitative Reverse Transcripted-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method, solid tumor specimens or samples from malignant effusions in breast cancer patients were examined for the nm23-H1 gene. Clinical data were collected retrospectively and gene expression was correlated with survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients were included in the current analysis. The gene was detected in 7 patients. No statistically significant differences were observed in the comparison done for prognostic factors between nm23-H1-positive and nm23-H1-negative patients. Women in whom the gene was not detected had longer median survival (49 vs. 6 months, p=0.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In advanced breast cancer, nm23-H1, as detected by RT-PCR, seems to be a predictor of bad prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, Greece. josephsgouros@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sgouros
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galani
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonos
authors.forename: Paraskeui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moutsatsou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belechri
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skarlos
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dionyssiou-Asteriou
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase