Aromatase and steroid sulfatase mRNA expression in fine needle aspirates from benign and malignant breast disorders

Lei Gao,Ying Qi,Guijian Liu,Xiaomeng Yu,Jingli Liu,Wei Xia

doi:10.1007/s11434-012-5265-1

Abstract

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) test is a convenient and tolerable technique with minimal invasion that is accepted by most women. Local estrogen synthesis depends mainly on the aromatase and steroid sulfatase pathways that are believed to play important roles in breast carcinogenesis. However, little is known about the level of aromatase and steroid sulfatase mRNA expression in FNA samples which contain only small amounts of tissue. The nested Q-PCR assay has been proven to be a highly sensitive and specific method to assess the aromatase expression of breast tissue. In this study, aromatase and steroid sulfatase mRNA expression in 74 patients with benign or malignant disorders was evaluated and compared using nested Q-PCR and non-nested Q-PCR assays. The expression levels were analyzed and correlated with clinical parameters. No difference in the aromatase expression levels between nested and non-nested Q-PCR was noticed. Age and aromatase mRNA expression level were two independent risk factors for breast cancer (P=0.04 and P=0.00, respectively), while menopausal status and steroid sulfatase mRNA expression levels were not associated with breast cancer. This study showed that both nested and non-nested Q-PCR assays were effective methods for research using FNA breast samples.

Highlights

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) test is a convenient and tolerable technique with minimal invasion that is accepted by most women
The mRNA expression of aromatase and steroid sulfatase was detected in all the collected FNA samples (74 cases) using both the nested and non-nest Q-PCR
All 74 samples were successfully amplified with the nested Q-PCR assay, and 71 of the 74 samples were successfully amplified with the non-nested Q-PCR assay

Summary

Introduction

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) test is a convenient and tolerable technique with minimal invasion that is accepted by most women. Aromatase and steroid sulfatase mRNA expression in 74 patients with benign or malignant disorders was evaluated and compared using nested Q-PCR and non-nested Q-PCR assays. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) has been used for cytological assessment and identification of surrogate molecular markers This method might aid in predicting breast cancer risk and treatment response [7]. Because of a very small amount of breast tissue obtained by FNA, the challenge is to develop a method that is sensitive and specific enough to detect the mRNA expression levels of aromatase and steroid sulfatase. Both aromatase and steroid sulfatase mRNA levels were measured in breast tissues from patients with benign and malignant breast disorders using a nested Q-PCR assay. Gao L, et al Chin Sci Bull July (2012) Vol. No.20 the method on FNA samples and to provide new insights into the roles of the estrogen biosynthesis related enzymes in Chinese women with benign and malignant breast disorders

Methods

Results

Conclusion