title: Evidence of an autocrine role for leptin and leptin receptor in human breast cancer.
abstract: We studied potential associations between the expression of leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR) and clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer, and the correlation of leptin with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2)
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 153 specimens were studied. Transcript levels were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and were correlated with clinicopathological data collected for over 10 years. Additionally, leptin and LEPR expression was studied in several breast cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both leptin and LEPR mRNA expression were higher in malignant samples (p=0.0011 and 0.0014 respectively). Both were also expressed in MDA436 and MCF7 cell lines. Leptin showed a significant correlation with LEPR (r=0.504, p=0.0000000222). Leptin did not correlate significantly with clinical stage, tumour grade, or with the expression of hTERT or COX2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that leptin and LEPR are more readily expressed in cancerous tissues suggesting a possible autocrine role in mammary carcinogenesis, which may be independent of hTERT and COX2 genes.
authors.affiliation: The London Breast Institute, Princess Grace Hospital, and Medical School, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wazir
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al Sarakbi
authors.forename: Wen G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Kefah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mokbel
mesh_terms: D019898:Autocrine Communication; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase