Dynamic Wnt gene expression in the oncogenesis of breast cancer in Tianjin albino 2 strain mice

Abstract

Objective: This work aims to investigate the dynamic gene expression of Wnt family members in the oncogenesis of breast cancer in Tianjin albino 2 strain (TA2) mice. Methods: Clinical specimens of spontaneous breast cancers were harvested from 42 female TA2 mice, and mammary glands were collected from tissues of normal and pregnant TA2 mice. A gene chip was used to identify the dif- ferentially expressed genes between the tissues of breast cancer and the normal mammary gland. They were subsequently validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the change in the Wnt expressions in the oncogenesis of breast cancer in TA2 mice. Results: The average age of the TA2 mice at carcinogenesis was 336.706 ± 85.05 d, and the average frequency of delivery was 3.767 ± 1.79. Compared with the mammary gland of the normal TA2 mice, Wnt1, Wnt5a, and Wnt10b were obviously up-regulated in the breast cancer tissue of the TA2 mice. However, the expression of Wnt5b was down-regulated in the normal mammary gland and the breast cancer tissues of the TA2 mice. Conclusion: Wnt1, Wnt5a, and Wnt10b may promote the progression of breast cancer, whereas Wnt5b may inhibit the development of TA2 breast cancer.