STUDY ON TRANSCRIPTION POSSIBILITY OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (EGFR) GENE IN BREAST CARCINOMA TISSUES BY REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION-PCR ASSAY

Abstract

Background: EGFR is a member of the EGFR family- type I transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, which plays an essential role in development and growth of body. However, EGFRs are frequently overexpressed, this overexpression and its signal pathway induce unrestricted development and uncontrolled proliferation in human malignant tumors including breast carcinoma, one of the most common cancer in women. Objective: (1)To evaluate transcript level of EGFR gene in breast carcinoma tissues by RT-PCR assay.(2)To compare transcript level of EGFR gene in breast carcinoma with breast fibro adenoma. Subject and Methods: total RNA from 70 samples including 38 breast carcinoma tissues and 32 breast fibroadenoma tissues were extracted. EGFR transcript level were determined using semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR assay. PCR products were tested by electrophoresis on agarose gel 2%. Results: RNA total concentration in breast carcinoma tissues was 170.03 ± 201.17 ng/µl, was significantly higher in breast fibro adenoma tissue: 65.96 ± 43.16 ng/µl (p<0.05). EGFR transcript level was highly expressed in breast carcinoma compared to breast fibro adenoma (1.22 ± 0.24 compared to 0.75 ± 0,19) (p< 0.0001). The cut-off point of the rate EGFR/GAPDH was 0.97, area under the curve: 0.913, p< 0.0001, sensitivity and specificity were 81,58% and 93.75%. Conclusion: Transcript level of EGFR gene in breast carcinoma was significantly 1.63 times higher than in breast fibro-adenoma. The cut-off point of the rate EGFR/GAPDH was 0.97, sensitivity: 81.58% and specificity: 93.75%. Key words: EGFR, RT-PCR, breast carcinoma