Expression of ΔDNMT3B Variants and Its Association with Estrogen/Progestogen Receptor Status in Breast Cancer

Objective： Our previous study has showed that △DNMT3B is the predominant form of DNMT3B in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. In this study, we aimed to explore the expression patterns of the △DNMT3B variants in breast cancer and to identify whether the pattern was similar to that in NSCLC or not and its clinical significance. Methods： Expression of seven △DNMT3B variants in 59 breast cancer and the corresponding normal tissue was measured using RT-PCR. The correlations between the expressions of △DNMT3B variants and the clinical parameters including ER/PR status, clincopathologic feature and survivals were analyzed. Results： There were significant differences in the expression ratios of △DNMT3B1-7 variants between breast cancer tissues and normal tissues （P〈0.001）. The positive ratio of △DNMT3B1-7 variants were 66%, 71%, 17%, 51%, 76.2%, 50% and 61% in tumor tissue, respectively; while 16%, 8.4%, 3.38%, 3.38%, 11.8%, 13.5% and 5.08% in the corresponding normal tissue, which was different from the pattern of △DNMT3B1-7 expression in NSCLC （62%, 76%, 2.5%, 46%, 18%, 27% and 16% in tumor tissue, respectively; while 18%, 11%, 0%, 3.3%, 0%, 0% and 0% in normal lung tissue, respectively; P〈0.0001）. Expressions of △DNMT3B2, 3B4 and 3B7 were higher in the patients with negative estrogen receptor （ER） than those with positive estrogen receptor （P=0.035, P=0.0141 and P=0.0219, respectively）. △DNMT3B7 expression was higher for the patients with negative progestogen receptor （PR） compared to those with positive progestogen receptor （P=0.0379）. Expression ratio of △DNMT3B5 in stage Ⅲ tumors is lower than that in stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ ones （P= 0.041）. But we did not find any relation between the △DNMT3B variants and the patients＇ survival. Conclusion： The pattern of △DNMT3B variants in breast cancer is different from that in NSCLC. Expressions of △DNMT3B2, 3B4 and 3B7 are associated with estrogen receptors status. While △DNMT3B7 is associated with progestogen receptor. No relation between the △DNMT3B variants and the patients＇ survival were found.

Expression of p73, ER and PR in esophageal carcinoma and precancerous lesions

Objective： To test the expression of mutant p73, p53, ER and PR proteins in the esophageal normal mucosa, hyperplasia, dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma, and research the clinically pathological significance and the correlation, for the early diagnosis, prognostic measure and therapy in clinic. Methods： With Immunohistochemistry, it was examined to show these tumor markers＇ expression in different epithelial lesions of 40 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, 14 dysplasias, 14 hyperplasias and 14 normal mucosas. Results： The expression of p73 was 55%, 21%, 0% and 0% in the esophageal carcinoma, dysplasia, hyperplasia and normal mucosa, respectively. The significant difference in expression of p73 （P〈0.001） was observed between the esophageal normal mucosia, hyperplasia, dysplasia and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with Fisher＇s exact test. Difference in expression of p73 （P〈0.05） was observed between the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and dysplasia with X^2 test. The expression of p73 showed non-correlation with the patient＇s age, sex, tumor＇s grade, lymph-node metastasis and invasive depth （P〉0.05）; Similarly, the expression of mutant p53 was 67.5%, 35.7%, 7% and 0%, respectively; In like manner, the expression of ER was 55%, 21.4%, 14.2% and 0%, respectively; The expression of PR was 57.5%,14.28%, 0% and 0%, respectively. The significant difference in expression of PR （P〈0.001） was observed with Fisher＇s exact test. Difference in expression of PR （P〈0.05） was observed between the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and dysplasia with x2 test. The expression of PR （P〈0.05） was correlated with lymph-node metastasis, and showed non-correlation with the patient＇s age, sex, tumor＇s grade, and invasive depth （P〉0.05）. Moreover, over-expression of mutant p53 and p73 showed significant correlation with ER and PR protein＇s positive expression （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： P73 protein may become a new tumor＇s marker to diagnose esophageal squarnous celt carcinoma. Because the expression of p73 protein was closely correlated with ER and PR, they could be simultaneously examined to help to early diagnose, prognosticate and cure esophageal carcinoma.

Relationship between expression of ER, PR, Her-2, Ki-67 and neoadjuvant chemotherapy effect in breast cancer

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of estrogen receptor(ER), progestogen receptor(PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor(Her-2), Ki-67 and the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Methods: The expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki-67 in 45 breast cancers which received neoadjuvant chemotherapy was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The effective rates in ER negative and PR negative groups were higher than those in ER positive and PR positive groups(83.3% vs 59. 4%, 82.4% vs 60.6%). There was no significant difference of the effective rate between Her-2 overexpressed group and Her-2 non-overexpressed group(81.8% vs 64.1%), and the same thing happened between Ki-67 negative group and Ki-67 positive group(67.7% vs 63.2%). Conclusion: In the patients with breast cancer, ER, PR negative ones were more sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These patients may get more benefits from chemotherapy. ER, PR could be feasible markers for predicting the effective rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Expression of BI-1 protein and its significance in breast cancer

Objective： To investigate the correlations of expression of Bax inhibitor-1 （BI-1） gene and the receptors of estrogen and progestogen in breast cancer and its significance. Methods： Immunohistochemical methods had been used to detect the expressions of BI-1 gene and receptors of estrogen and progestogen in breast cancer. Results： The positive rates of expressions of BI-1 gene, estrogen receptor （ER） and progestogen receptor （PR） in breast cancer were 77.08%, 60.42% and 54.17%, respectively. The positive rate of expression of BI-1 gene was higher in the group with negative expression of ER than the positive group, their positive rates were 76.92% and 52.27%, respectively; but there was no statistical difference between the two groups with positive and negative expressions of PR. The positive rate of expression of BI-1 gene was also higher in the group with positive lymph node metastasis than the non-lymph node metastasis group, and their positive rates were 64.58% and 36.36%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： BI-1 gene, in combination with ER, has guiding significance for patients with breast cancer to choose individual chemotherapy and radiotherapy after operation and can become an important indicator for judging the prognosis of breast cancer.