The small variant of the apoptosis-associated X-chromosome RBM10 gene is co-expressed with caspase-3 in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
There are very few studies on the final triggers of apoptosis, the caspases, in breast cancer.


METHODS
Caspase-3 expression was studied by means of reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a series of 108 previously untreated patients with breast cancer. Expression levels were correlated with those obtained using the same technique of the apoptosis-associated X-chromosome genes RBMX, RBM3, RBM10 small and RBM10 large variant; Bcl-2 and Bax; the angiogenesis-associated genes VEGF and CD105 (endoglin); hMAM and Nup88. The correlation with the expression of hormone receptors, c-erb-B2, mutant p53 and Ki-67, all measured by means of immunohistochemistry, was also studied, as well as that with standard clinical parameters such as histological type, tumor size, axillary metastasis and DNA-ploidy.


RESULTS
The only statistically significant correlations observed between caspase-3 mRNA expression and the parameters tested were a direct one with both the Bax (p = 0.007) and the small variant of the X-chromosome RBM10 gene (p = 0.018), and an inverse one with the angiogenesis-associated CD105 (endoglin) gene (p = 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that very few genes are involved in the last steps of the apoptotic cascade in breast cancer, among them one of the X-chromosome RBM family. They also support the relatively unexplored link between apoptosis and angiogenesis.
Martín-Garabato
E
E
Fundación Tejerina, Centro de Patología de la Mama, Madrid.
Martínez-Arribas
F
F
Pollán
M
M
Lucas
A R
AR
Sánchez
J
J
Schneider
J
J
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C512260:RBM10 protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D053148:Caspase 3