Annals of Surgical Oncology Sign the Guestbook
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
10.1245/s10434-007-9397-5
Annals of Surgical Oncology 14:2159-2166 (2007)
© 2007 Society of Surgical Oncology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hanavadi, S.
Right arrow Articles by Jiang, W. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hanavadi, S.
Right arrow Articles by Jiang, W. G.

Original Article

The Role of Growth Differentiation Factor-9 (GDF-9) and Its Analog, GDF-9b/BMP-15, in Human Breast Cancer

S. Hanavadi, MS, FRCS, T. A. Martin, PhD, G. Watkins, HND, R. E. Mansel, MS, FRCS and W. G. Jiang, MB BCh, MD

Metastasis and Angiogenesis Research Group, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: W. G. Jiang, MB BCh, MD; E-mail: jiangw{at}cf.ac.uk

Background: There has been a recent surge of interest in the role of growth differentiation factors and other bone morphogenic proteins in the development and spread of cancer. In this study we have provided evidence that highlights the significance of growth and differentiation factor-9a (GDF-9a) and GDF-9b (bone morphogenic protein-15, BMP-15) in breast cancer development and progression.

Methods: Primary breast cancer samples (n = 109) and matched background tissues from same patients (n = 33) were processed for frozen section and RNA extraction. Frozen sections from matched tissues were immunostained with GDF-9a and GDF-9b antibodies. Staining intensity was analyzed by computer image analysis. RNA was reverse transcribed and quantified before analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Results were expressed as number of transcripts (standardized by ß-actin). The data were compared with the clinical outcome of the disease. The biological effects of the molecule were studied using in vitro assays after forced expression in breast cancer cells.

Results: Highly aggressive breast cancer cells did not express GDF-9a. On forced expression of GDF-9a, breast cancer cells became less invasive. These laboratory findings were analyzed against the clinical information. Primary breast cancer samples with good predicted prognosis had a significantly higher level of GDF-9a than in samples with poor predicted prognosis (P = .004). Patients who remained disease-free at the end of a 10-year follow-up had significantly higher levels of both GDF-9a and GDF-9b in their tissue than those with poor clinical outcome (P = .001 and .014, respectively).

Conclusion: Growth differentiation factor-9 family expressed in breast cancer has an inhibitory effect on the progression of human breast cancer.

Key Words: Growth differentiation factor-9 • Bone morphogenic protein-15 • Breast cancer • Prognosis • Survival






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by the Society of Surgical Oncology.