title: The mRNA expression of DAP3 in human breast cancer: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This pilot study is the first to focus on the potential role for death-associated protein 3 (DAP3) in human breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 153 samples were studied. The levels of transcription of DAP3 were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Transcript levels within breast cancer specimens were compared to those of normal background tissues and correlated with clinicopathological data accumulated by over a 10-year follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of DAP3 mRNA was demonstrated to decrease with increasing Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI2 vs. 3, p=0.036), TNM stage (TNM1 vs. 3, p=0.07), and tumour grade (grade 1 vs. 3, p=0.08). Lower DAP3 expression levels were significantly associated with local recurrence (p=0.013), distant metastasis (p=0.0057) and mortality (p=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an inverse association between DAP3 mRNA levels and tumour stage and clinical outcome in breast cancer, consistent with the pro-apoptosis function of DAP3. Further research is required in order to confirm our findings and clarify the mechanisms that regulate DAP3 expression in human breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: MS FRCS, London Breast Institute, The Princess Grace Hospital, 45 Nottingham Place, London, W1U 5NY, UK.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wazir
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mokbel
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C097041:DAP3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins