Expression of SCUBE2 gene declines in high grade endometrial cancer and associates with expression of steroid hormone receptors and tumor suppressor PTEN.
SCUBE2 (Signal peptide-CUB-epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing 2) gene codes for a cell-surface glycoprotein. In breast cancer, SCUBE2 transcript levels are part of important prognostic and predictive gene signatures and are linked to expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα). To elucidate the role of this gene in endometrial cancer, we compared SCUBE2 expression in malignant and normal endometrial tissue specimens. We then examined its correlation with steroid hormone receptors and PTEN and compared it to SCUBE2 expression in breast cancer samples. Expression of SCUBE2 was found to be decreased in G3 endometrial cancer when compared to postmenopausal endometrium or to G1 tumors (p < 0.05). In postmenopausal endometrium, SCUBE2 transcript levels were more than twice as high as in premenopausal women. In breast cancer, SCUBE2 expression was found to be notably reduced particularly in ERα-negative G3 tumors. Both in endometrial and breast cancer we observed a significant positive correlation of SCUBE2 transcript levels with expression of ERα, PR and PTEN. Our data suggest that SCUBE2, like in breast cancer, associates with ERα and might have a potential as prognostic or predictive marker in endometrial cancer.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany and.
Maciej
M
Skrzypczak
Claus
C
Lattrich
Julia
J
Häring
Susanne
S
Schüler
Olaf
O
Ortmann
Oliver
O
Treeck
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000235:genetics*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C469999:SCUBE2 protein, human; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human