Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2C is highly expressed in breast microcalcification lesions.
Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 2C (UBE2C) contributes to ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation of cell cycle progression in breast cancer. Microcalcification (MC) is the most common mammographic feature of early breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated whether UBE2C could be a tumor marker of early breast cancer with MC found on screening mammography. UBE2C protein and mRNA expression were measured in breast core biopsy pairs of MC and adjacent non-MC breast tissue from each subject. Immunohistochemistry revealed UBE2C positivity in 69.4% of MC samples and 77.6% negativity in non-MC samples (p<0.0001). On RT-qPCR, 56.1% of malignant MC lesion samples showed high mRNA level of UBE2C and 80% of benign MC lesion samples showed a low level of UBE2C (p = 0.1766). We investigated the carcinogenic role of UBE2C in MCF-7 breast cancer cells with UBE2C knockdown; UBE2C knockdown downregulated cell proliferation and activated the cellular apoptosis pathway to inhibit cell colony formation. Furthermore, UBE2C expression was associated with that of carcinogenic genes human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), cellular c-Ki-ras2 proto-oncogene (KRAS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), C-C motif chemokine 5 (CCL5), neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) and Ras homolog family member C (RhoC). UBE2C may be a marker for diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions but not benign or malignant tumors in mammography core biopsies. Suppression of UBE2C may be a potential therapy target in breast cancer.
Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen-Pin
CP
Chou
Department of Family Medicine, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Nan-Chieh
NC
Huang
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Shu-Jhen
SJ
Jhuang
Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Huay-Ben
HB
Pan
Section of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Nan-Jing
NJ
Peng
Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Jiin-Tsuey
JT
Cheng
VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chian-Feng
CF
Chen
Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
Jih-Jung
JJ
Chen
Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
Tsung-Hsien
TH
Chang
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; C105156:UBE2C protein, human; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes