Low expression of Mel-18 predicts poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Our previous study suggested that melanoma nuclear protein 18 (Mel-18) acted as a tumor suppressor in human breast cancer. This study was designed to investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of Mel-18 in breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Mel-18 was detected by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissues from 287 breast cancer patients, of which 287 were from primary cancer sites, 63 from matched adjacent noncancerous sites, and 35 from metastatic lymph nodes. Differences in Mel-18 expression and clinical characteristics were compared by χ² test. Prognostic outcomes correlated with Mel-18 were examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
The decreased Mel-18 expression is incremental depending upon the magnitude of cancer progression (P < 0.001). Mel-18 was conversely correlated with the pathological classifications (P < 0.001 for T, N, and M classifications, respectively), clinical staging (P < 0.001), and progesterone receptor (P = 0.030). Furthermore, patients with higher level of Mel-18 showed prolonged overall survivals (P < 0.001). The diminished Mel-18 expression may be a risk factor for the patients' survival (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower Mel-18 expression is correlated with advanced clinicopathologic classifications and a poor overall survival in breast cancer patients. These findings suggest that Mel-18 may serve as a useful marker in prognostic evaluation for patients.
Guo
B-H
BH
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou; Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR.
Zhang
X
X
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou.
Zhang
H-Z
HZ
Pathology Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Lin
H-L
HL
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR.
Feng
Y
Y
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou.
Shao
J-Y
JY
Pathology Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Huang
W-L
WL
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou.
Kung
H-F
HF
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, the Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR.
Zeng
M-S
MS
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou. Electronic address: zengmsh@sysucc.org.cn.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011379:Prognosis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C489348:PCGF2 protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1