Expression Levels of Enzymes Related to In Situ Estrogen Synthesis and Clinicopathological Parameters in Breast Cancer Patients.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Local estrogen synthesis may play an important role of progression of breast cancer with hormone receptors. Local progression of breast cancer may depend on high concentration of estrogens and estrogen receptor status. To clarify correlation between expression levels of enzymes in breast cancer and clinicopathological parameters, we analyzed expression of steroid sulfatase(STS), estrogen sulfatase(EST), 17b-hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type I & II(17b-HSDI & II) and aromatase. In addition, mRNA expression of estrogens receptor alpha(ERa), estrogen receptor beta(ERb), cycline D1 and erbB2 were measured. Material and Methods: The mRNA expression levels of genes in 196 breast cancer tissues removed from surgery were assayed by RT-PCR. Results: The level of STS were significantly higher in patients with clinical stage. STS expressed none in stage 0 or I, 0.011 in stage II, and 0.013 amol/1 amol b-actin in stage 3 or 4. In addition, EST expressed 58.5 amol/1 amol b-actin in stage 2 and 36.8 in stage 3 or 4, otherwise, the expression level of EST in stage 0 or 1 revealed 15.3 amol/1 amol b-actin. There were no correlation between clinical stage and aromatase expression. Expression levels of ERa and cyclineD1 significantly correlated with protein levels of ER, and there were significant correlation between erbB2 expression and prognosis of patients. Conclusion: Up-regulation of STS play an important role in tumor progression of breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4155.