Epigenetic Differences in Breast Tumors Based on Estrogen Receptor and HER2 Status
Author Information
Author(s): Sunami Eiji, Shinozaki Masaru, Sim Myung-Shin, Nguyen Sandy L, Vu Anh-Thu, Giuliano Armando E, Hoon Dave SB
Primary Institution: The John Wayne Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
ER-positive breast tumors have different epigenetic profiles of tumor-related genes during early stages of cancer progression.
Conclusion
The study found significant differences in tumor-related gene methylation patterns relevant to ER and HER2/neu status in breast tumors.
Supporting Evidence
- RASSF1A and CCND2 were significantly more methylated in ER-positive than in ER-negative tumors.
- GSTP1 hypermethylation was more frequent in lymph node metastasis positive group.
- Double negative breast cancers had significantly lesser frequencies of RASSF1A, GSTP1, and APC methylation.
Takeaway
This study shows that breast cancer tumors with different estrogen receptor statuses have different patterns of gene changes, which might affect treatment options.
Methodology
The study assessed the promoter methylation status of eight major breast tumor-related genes in paired ER-positive and ER-negative primary breast tumors using methylation-specific PCR.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 65 premenopausal and 65 postmenopausal women with matched tumor characteristics.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001 for RASSF1A and CCND2 methylation differences
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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