title: Importance of transcript levels of caspase-2 isoforms S and L for breast carcinoma progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A role of caspase-2 in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis has been suggested. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive importance of caspase-2 isoforms in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caspase-2L and -2S transcript levels were determined in paired tumor and non-malignant control tissues from 64 patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 100 pretreatment patients (general set) by real-time PCR with absolute quantification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low but statistically significant upregulation of caspase-2L in tumor versus control tissues was observed in both sets. Significant associations of the levels of caspase-2L, -2S or S/L ratio with clinical prognostic factors were observed. However, none of these associations were confirmed in both sets. Levels of caspase-2 isoforms or the S/L ratio did not significantly associate with progression-free survival in the general set or with chemotherapy response in the neoadjuvant set.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the role of caspase-2 isoforms in the progression of breast cancer may considerably differ between pre- and post-chemotherapy patients.
authors.affiliation: Toxicogenomics Unit, Department of Toxicology & Safety, National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 48, 100 42, Prague 10, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brynychová
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hlaváč
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrlichová
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Václavíková
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pecha
authors.forename: Markéta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trnková
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wald
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrhalová
authors.forename: Kateřina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubáčková
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pikus
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodet
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovář
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Souček
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality; D053143:Caspase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C490360:CASP2 protein, human; D053143:Caspase 2; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases