Journal article
Analysis of estrogen receptor messenger RNA in breast carcinomas from archival specimens is predictive of tumor biology
The American journal of pathology, Vol.150(5), pp.1563-1570
05/1997
PMCID: PMC1858204
PMID: 9137083
Abstract
As the size of breast tumors continues to decrease, it has become more difficult to obtain adequate tumor tissue for molecular studies. We have used the estrogen receptor (ER) gene as a model to study the ability to perform a quantitative analysis of ER mRNA extracted from archival breast carcinoma specimens using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Based upon ER mRNA abundance, tumors were characterized as having low, medium, or high ER mRNA expression. These data were compared with ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status determined by enzyme immunoassay, tumor histology, and Bloom-Richardson grade. Comparing the low and high ER mRNA groups, there were statistically significant differences in ER-positive status (10% versus 95%; P = 0.0001), PR-positive status (10% versus 90%; P = 0.0001), and tumor grade (2.67 +/- 0.12 versus 2.09 +/- 0.14; P = 0.0025). Of the 28 tumors in the high ER mRNA group, 5 (18%) were invasive lobular carcinomas whereas all 24 tumors with low ER mRNA were invasive ductal carcinomas. These data demonstrate that archival breast tumor specimens can be characterized for ER mRNA abundance. In addition, we conclude that the mechanisms regulating ER gene transcription influence the phenotype of breast carcinomas. These results also suggest that this technique can be designed to provide a quantitative analysis of gene expression for any gene of interest utilizing archival tumor specimens.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Analysis of estrogen receptor messenger RNA in breast carcinomas from archival specimens is predictive of tumor biology
- Creators
- C Carmeci - Department of Surgery, Stanford University, CA 94305, USAE C deConinckT LawtonD A BlochR J Weigel
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The American journal of pathology, Vol.150(5), pp.1563-1570
- Publisher
- United States
- PMID
- 9137083
- PMCID
- PMC1858204
- ISSN
- 0002-9440
- eISSN
- 1525-2191
- Grant note
- 1R29CA63251 / NCI NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/1997
- Academic Unit
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Anatomy and Cell Biology; Surgery; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9984024419202771
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