Age dependent switching role of cyclin D1 in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) plays pivotal roles in the development of several human cancers, including breast cancer, functioning as an oncogene. The aim of this study was to better understand the molecular dynamics of ductal carcinomas with regard to proliferation and the ageing process.


METHODS
130 cases of ductal breast cancer in postmenopausal women, aged 52-96 in 3 age classes were selected. Tumoral tissues preserved in formaldehyde solution and subsequently embedded in paraffin were subjected to analysis Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH), Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) and immuno-histochemical tests. The molecular variables studied were estimated in relation to the patients' age.


RESULTS
The results obtained suggest that the increment of the levels of cyclin D1 in intra-ductal breast tumors in older woman that we have examined is significantly associated with a lower proliferation rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclin D1, which characterizes tumor in young women as molecular director involved in strengthening tumoral proliferation mechanisms, may be seen as a potential blocking molecular switch in corresponding tumours in old women.
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomorphology and Biotechnologies, Division of Biology and Genetics, University of Messina, Italy.
Carmela
C
Rinaldi
Natalia Maria
NM
Malara
Rosalia
R
D'Angelo
Antonina
A
Sidoti
Attilio
A
Leotta
Santo
S
Lio
Basilio
B
Caparello
Alessia
A
Ruggeri
Vincenzo
V
Mollace
Aldo
A
Amato
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C530104:CCND1 protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019938:Cyclin D1