Abstract
The human gene sequences encoding the translation-associated functions of alpha-subunit of elongation factor 1 (EF-1 alpha) and the ubiquitin carboxyl extension protein (HUBCEP80) have been isolated by differential cDNA screening, and found to have significantly higher levels of expression in fibroadenomas (benign) compared with carcinomas (malignant) of the breast. These data parallel our previous findings that the acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P2 also has higher expression levels in the benign breast tumours (Sharp et al., 1990). In situ hybridisation has shown these genes to be expressed predominantly in the epithelium of breast tumours.
Highlights
Tumour progression may involve genetic changes or alterations which affect the expression of specific genes
We have previously reported that the gene for another translation-associated protein, acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P2, isolated as encoding a metastasis-related protein by Elvin et al (1988), has higher levels of RNA expression in benign tumours compared with malignant tumours (Sharp et al, 1990)
Screening of the cDNA library A cDNA library of over 21,000 different clones representing poly(A)+RNA from a single human breast carcinoma was constructed and differentially screened using a total cDNA probe from poly(A)+RNA from the same carcinoma, followed by rehybridisation with a similar probe derived from a fibroadenoma RNA
Summary
Tumour progression may involve genetic changes or alterations which affect the expression of specific genes. Metastasis of certain tumours has been related to secreted proteinases (Mullins & Rohrlich, 1983; Zucker, 1988; Matrisian & Bowden, 1990) and cell surface antigens (Feldman & Eisenbach, 1988). Changes in homotypic cell adhesion (Updyke & Nicholson, 1986), intercellular communications (Hamada et al, 1988; Nicholson et al, 1988) and growth autonomy (Chadwick & Lagarde, 1988) correlate with metastatic capacity. No single marker has been identified which distinguishes between metastasising and non-metastasising cells of a specific organ, let alone between tumours arising in different sites
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