Abstract
Background: Deregulated c-Myc expression and alterations of c- myc oncogene have been reported to play an important role in breast cancer tumorigenesis. We examined the relationship between c-Myc protein level, amplification of c- myc oncogene and commonly used clinical and pathologic factors. Methods: The studies were conducted on 94 ductal and lobular cancers. Amplification of c- Myc was assessed by the semiquantitative multiplex PCR assay. The amount of c-Myc protein was estimated by the densitometry analysis of Western blots. Results: Amplification of c- Myc was found in 21% of examined cancers. There was no association of c- myc amplification with established risk factors. Overexpression of c-Myc protein without c- myc amplification was associated with negative status of axillary lymph node. The size of lobular carcinoma displaying overexpression of c-Myc and the normal copy number of c- myc gene was significantly smaller than the size of tumor with elevated c-Myc and amplification of c- myc gene ( p < 0.01). Within tumors displaying overexpression of c-Myc protein and c- myc gene amplification the size of ductal carcinoma was smaller than the size of lobular carcinoma ( p < 0.007). Conclusion: Data presented in this study suggest that alterations of c- myc gene and c-Myc protein level might be related to breast cancer progression. The prognostic utility of elevated level of c-Myc protein associated with normal status of c- myc gene for patients with lobular carcinoma requires further studies.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call