Expression of PCGEM1 and lincRNA-p21 lncRNAs in breast cancer tissue

Maryam  Mohammadhosseini; Nasrin  Shayanfar; Roya  Sharifi

doi:10.18502/abi.v3i3.20587

Maryam Mohammadhosseini Department of Biology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Nasrin Shayanfar Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Roya Sharifi Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/abi.v3i3.20587

Keywords: Breast cancer, Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), Prostate cancer gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1), lincRNA-p21

Abstract

Objectives: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in tumor development, progression, and prognosis. Prostate cancer gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1) is an oncogenic lncRNA that inhibits apoptosis, whereas lincRNA-p21 promotes apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression of these lncRNAs in breast tumor tissue and adjacent non-tumor tissue.

Methods: The expression levels of PCGEM1 and lincRNA-p21 were assessed by real- time PCR (RT-PCR) in fifty formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded invasive ductal carcinoma breast tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues.

Results: The expression of PCGEM1 was significantly higher in tumor tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (p=0.01). ROC curve analysis indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of PCGEM1 for discriminating breast cancer were %60.87 and 70.21%, respectively, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.63 (p=0.01). No significant correlation was observed between PCGEM1 expression and tumor size, histological grade, or lymph node involvement. The expression of lincRNA-p21 was similar in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues.

Conclusion: PCGEM1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of breast cancer and could serve as a diagnostic marker in breast cancer.