A genetic variant located in miR-423 is associated with reduced breast cancer risk.

Background/aim: Since microRNAs (miRNAs) act as translational regulators of multiple genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in them can have potentially wide-ranging effects. Using an association approach, this research examined the effects of the rs6505162 SNP, an A > C polymorphism located in the pre-miRNA region of miR-423, on breast cancer development.

Materials And Methods: Caucasian Australian women with breast cancer and controls matched for age and ethnicity were genotyped for rs6505162 and their genotypic and allelic frequencies analysed for significant differences.

Single nucleotide polymorphism in hsa-mir-196a-2 and breast cancer risk: a case control study.

microRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that influence gene expression on a post-transcriptional level. They participate in diverse biological pathways and may act as either tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes. As they may have an effect on thousands of target mRNAs, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNA genes might have major functional consequences, because the microRNA's properties and/or maturation may change.

Matrix metalloproteinase localisation by in situ-RT-PCR in archival human breast biopsy material.

Utilising archival human breast cancer biopsy material we examined the stromal/epithelial interactions of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) using in situ-RT-PCR (IS-RT-PCR). In breast cancer, the stromal/epithelial interactions that occur, and the site of production of these proteases, are central to understanding their role in invasive and metastatic processes. We examined MT1-MMP (MMP-14, membrane type-1-MMP), MMP-1 (interstitial collagenase) and MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) for their localisation profile in progressive breast cancer biopsy material (poorly differentiated invasive breast carcinoma (PDIBC), invasive breast carcinomas (IBC) and lymph node metastases (LNM)).

Progesterone, glucocorticoid, but not estrogen receptor mRNA is altered in breast cancer stroma.

Our laboratory has previously found that anti-mitogenic nuclear receptor mRNA is elevated in late stage tumours and this study was performed to scrutinize the possibility of cancer-stroma crosstalk using hormone signaling in these tissues. RNA levels in stromal tissue were examined for the estrogen alpha, estrogen beta, androgen, progesterone and glucocorticoid nuclear receptors by a semi-quantitative PCR. Significant differences in expression between the cancer stroma and control tissue were seen, analyzing for both cancer grade and estrogen receptor status.

Detection of mRNA levels for the estrogen alpha, estrogen beta and androgen nuclear receptor genes in archival breast cancer tissue.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown association of nuclear receptor expression and histological breast cancer grade. To further investigate these findings, it was the objective of this study to determine if expression levels of the estrogen alpha, estrogen beta and androgen nuclear receptor genes varied in different breast cancer grades. RNA extracted from paraffin embedded archival breast tumour tissue was converted into cDNA and cDNA underwent PCR to enable quantitation of mRNA expression.

An assessment of MMP and TIMP gene expression in cell lines and stroma - tumour differences in microdissected breast cancer biopsies.

To examine matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) mRNA levels in archival breast cancer biopsies, we employed microdissection to separate tumour tissue from the surrounding breast tissue, or stroma and RT-PCR to determine gross qualitative and small quantitative differences in the patterns of expression. In this study, a significant correlation (p < 0.05, by Mann-Whitney U analysis) between TIMP-2 expression and lymph node involvement was identified, while MMP-11 and TIMP-1 expression patterning also significantly (p < 0.

Chromosomal aberrations in squamous cell carcinoma and solar keratoses revealed by comparative genomic hybridization.

Objective: To identify chromosomal copy numbers of frequent genetic aberrations within squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and solar keratoses (SKs), and provide further evidence to support or challenge current dogma concerning the relationship between these lesions.

Design: Retrospective analysis of genetic aberrations in DNA from SK and SCC biopsy specimens by comparative genomic hybridization.

Setting: University-based research laboratory in Queensland, Australia.

Expression of glucocorticoid and progesterone nuclear receptor genes in archival breast cancer tissue.

Background: Previous studies in our laboratory have shown associations of specific nuclear receptor gene variants with sporadic breast cancer. In order to investigate these findings further, we conducted the present study to determine whether expression levels of the progesterone and glucocorticoid nuclear receptor genes vary in different breast cancer grades.

Methods: RNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded archival breast tumour tissue and converted into cDNA.

Pathology in East Timor.

East Timor is the newest nation in Southeast Asia and, with its recent turbulent history, also one of the poorest. Infectious and parasitic diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria are endemic, and the poor infrastructure in the wake of Indonesia's sudden withdrawal has left the country with enormous health challenges. Australia's key role in the emergence of East Timor as an independent country brings with it a long-term interest in the future development of its health services, including pathology.

Polymorphic variants of NFKB1 and its inhibitory protein NFKBIA, and their involvement in sporadic breast cancer.

Nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-kappaB) is a transcription factor responsible for modulating the expression of many genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metastasis. NF-kappaB interacts with IkappaB inhibitory proteins to regulate gene expression. This study investigated common variants within the genes coding for NF-kappaB and IkappaB, NFKB1 and NFKBIA, for involvement in sporadic breast cancer.

Differential gene expression in breast cancer cell lines and stroma-tumor differences in microdissected breast cancer biopsies revealed by display array analysis.

To examine gene-expression patterning in late-stage breast cancer biopsies, we used a microdissection technique to separate tumor from the surrounding breast tissue or stroma. A DD-PCR protocol was then used to amplify expressed products, which were resolved using PAGE and used as probe to hybridize with representative human arrays and cDNA libraries. The probe derived from the tumor-stroma comparison was hybridized with a gene array and an arrayed cDNA library derived from a GCT of bone; 21 known genes or expressed sequence tags were detected, of which 17 showed differential expression.