title: Expression level of novel tumor suppressor gene FATS is associated with the outcome of node positive breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, we reported the identification of a previously uncharacterized and evolutionarily conserved gene, fragile-site associated tumor suppressor (FATS), at a frequently deleted region in irradiation (IR)-induced tumors. However, the role of FATS in breast cancer development and its clinical significance has not been defined. The aim of this study was to determine the role of FATS in breast cancer development and to evaluate its clinical significance in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression level of FATS mRNA was determined in 106 breast carcinomas and 23 paired normal breast tissues using quantitative real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The relationship between FATS expression and clinicopathological parameters were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA level of FATS was down-regulated in breast cancer compared with paired normal tissues. Low expression of FATS was correlated with high nuclear grade. There was a tendency to a favorable outcome for patients with high expression of FATS (P = 0.346). However, low expression of FATS was associated with poor outcome of breast cancer patients with node positive (P = 0.011). Furthermore, the mRNA level of FATS showed an independent value in predicting the outcome of breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FATS is involved in the carcinogenesis and development of breast cancer and could be a potential biomarker and prognostic factor for breast cancer therapy.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Gu
authors: Lu-Jun
authors: LJ
authors: Zhao
authors: Xi-Feng
authors: XF
authors: Zhang
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Qiu
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins