Nucleobindin 2 in human breast carcinoma as a potent prognostic factor

Cancer Sci. 2012 Jan;103(1):136-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.02119.x. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Abstract

It is well-known that estrogens immensely contribute to the progression of human breast carcinoma, but their detailed molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we identified nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) as a gene associated with recurrence based on microarray data of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cases (n = 10), and subsequent in vitro study showed that NUCB2 expression was upregulated by estradiol in ER-positive MCF-7 cells. However, NUCB2 has not yet been examined in breast carcinoma, and its significance remains unknown. Therefore, we further examined the biological functions of NUCB2 in breast carcinoma using immunohistochemistry and in vitro studies. NUCB2 immunoreactivity was detected in carcinoma cells in 77 of 161 (48%) breast cancer cases, and positively associated with lymph node metastasis and ER status of the patients. In addition, NUCB2 status was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence and adverse clinical outcome of the patients using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results of siRNA transfection experiments showed that NUCB2 significantly increased cell proliferation, and migration and invasion properties in both MCF-7 and ER-negative SK-BR-3 cells. These results suggest that NUCB2 is upregulated by estrogens and plays an important role, especially in the process of metastasis, in breast carcinomas. NUCB2 status is considered a potent prognostic factor in human breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / secondary*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Laser Capture Microdissection
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleobindins
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Survival Rate
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Estrogens
  • NUCB2 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nucleobindins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Estrogen