title: Expression of human Piwi-like genes is associated with prognosis for soft tissue sarcoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Argonaute genes are essential for RNA interference, stem cell maintenance and differentiation. The Piwi-like genes, a subclass of the Argonaute genes, are expressed mainly in the germline. These genes may be re-expressed in tumors, and expression of the Piwi-like genes is associated with prognosis in several types of tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the expression of Piwi-like mRNAs (Piwi-like 2-4) in 125 soft tissue sarcoma (STS) samples by qPCRs. Statistical tests were applied to study the correlation of expression levels with tumor-specific survival for STS patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariate Cox's regression analyses, we showed that low Piwi-like 2 and Piwi-like 4 mRNA expression were significantly associated with a worse prognosis (RR = 1.87; p = 0.032 and RR = 1.82; p = 0.039). Low expression of both genes was associated with a 2.58-fold increased risk of tumor-related death (p = 0.01). Piwi-like 4 and combined Piwi-like 2 and 4 mRNA levels correlated significantly with prognosis (RR = 3.53; p = 0.002 and RR = 5.23; p = 0.004) only for female but not for male patients. However, combined low Piwi-like 2 and 3 transcript levels were associated with worse survival (RR = 5.90; p = 0.02) for male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we identified a significant association between the expression of Piwi-like 2 and 4 mRNAs and the tumor-specific survival of soft tissue sarcoma patients. Furthermore, a connection between sex and the impact of Piwi-like mRNA expressions on STS patients' prognosis was shown for the first time.
authors: Div, Molecular Urology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, University Clinic of Urology, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Greither
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Koser
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Kappler
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Bache
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Lautenschläger
authors: Steffen
authors: S
authors: Göbel
authors: Hans-Jürgen
authors: HJ
authors: Holzhausen
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Wach
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Würl
authors: Helge
authors: H
authors: Taubert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060565:Argonaute Proteins; C486868:PIWIL2 protein, human; C556794:PIWIL3 protein, human; C556795:PIWIL4 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins