2 research outputs found
Mutation analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Iranian high risk breast cancer families
Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesises telomeres after cell
division and maintains chromosomal stability leading to cellular immortalization. Telomerase has
been associated with negative prognostic indicators in some studies. The present study aims to
detect any association between telomerase sub-units: hTERT and hTR and the prognostic
indicators including tumour's size and grade, nodal status and patient's age.
Methods: Tumour samples from 46 patients with primary invasive breast cancer and 3 patients
with benign tumours were collected. RT-PCR analysis was used for the detection of hTR, hTERT,
and PGM1 (as a housekeeping) genes expression.
Results: The expression of hTR and hTERT was found in 31(67.4%) and 38 (82.6%) samples
respectively. We observed a significant association between hTR gene expression and younger age
at diagnosis (p = 0.019) when comparing patients ≤ 40 years with those who are older than 40
years. None of the benign tumours expressed hTR gene. However, the expression of hTERT gene
was revealed in 2 samples.
No significant association between hTR and hTERT expression and tumour's grade, stage and nodal
status was seen.
Conclusion: The expression of hTR and hTERT seems to be independent of tumour's stage. hTR
expression probably plays a greater role in mammary tumourogenesis in younger women (≤ 40
years) and this may have therapeutic implications in the context of hTR targeting strategies