Overexpression of NOTCH-regulated ankyrin repeat protein is associated with breast cancer cell proliferation.

Background/aim: NOTCH-regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) has been implicated in crosstalk between NOTCH and wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site (WNT) signals during development. Our study aimed to clarify its role in breast cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: Public microarray data were used to analyze gene expression in human and rat breast cancer. A short interfering RNA was introduced into MCF7 and T47D human breast cancer cells for NRARP silencing. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The NRARP transcript was commonly overexpressed in various rat mammary cancer models. In addition, a subset of human breast cancer also expressed high levels of NRARP transcript, which correlated positively with up-regulation of cell proliferation-related genes. Silencing of NRARP suppressed the growth of MCF7 and T47D cells and lowered the expression of cell cycle-related genes in MCF7 cells.

Conclusion: NRARP may stimulate cell proliferation in human breast cancer.