Long non-coding RNA GHET1 Is Possibly Involved in the Pathogenesis of a Fraction of Breast Cancers

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women. Although several targeted therapies have been applied for patients with breast cancer, due to its heterogeneous nature, several patients do not benefit from these treatment modalities. Consequently, it is necessary to identify novel markers, which participate in the development of breast cancer. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gained attention in this regard. Among them is lncRNA-gastric carcinoma high expressed transcript 1 (lncRNA-GHET1), whose participation in gastric and bladder cancers have been identified. Objectives: In the present study, we aimed at identifying lncRNA-GHET1 expression in breast cancer tissues compared with their adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCT) in a cohort of Iranian patients. Methods: We evaluated the expression of GHET1 in 47 samples of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast in comparison with their ANCTs by means of quantitative real time-PCR. Results: GHET1 has been shown to be up-regulated in 26% (13 out of 47) breast tumor samples compared with their paired ANCTs. Transcript levels of GHET1 were shown to be associated with body mass index. No other significant association was found between the level of transcripts and patients’ clinical data, such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her2/neu status, tumor stage or grade. Conclusions: GHET1 is possibly contributed in the pathogenesis of a fraction of breast cancers