title: Osteopontin expression profiles predict pathological and clinical outcome in breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteopontin (OPN) overexpression in breast cancer has been associated with adverse pathological and clinical outcomes. In this study, the OPN expression profiles were examined in a cohort of breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  RNA extraction and reverse transcription were performed on breast carcinomas (n = 127) and normal tissues (n = 33). Transcript levels were determined using real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OPN-a levels decreased with increasing TNM stage and worse clinical outcome. The OPN-b levels increased with tumour grade and Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) stage, were higher in patients who died of breast cancer than in those who were disease-free after 10 years and predicted disease-free survival. The OPN-c expression was associated with tumour grade and poor prognosis. Furthermore, the expression levels predicted local recurrence, disease-free survival and bone metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPN expression profiles are significantly associated with tumour grade, stage and patient prognosis in breast cancer. OPN-c is likely to be of particular utility as a prognostic marker and should be included in future validation studies.
authors.affiliation: The London Breast Institute, The Princess Grace Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Neill
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patani
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jouhra
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Kefah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mokbel
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053495:Osteopontin