Abstract |
Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) are cyto-toxic to cancer cells and generated in the body by desaturation from essential fatty acids, primarily involving delta-6-desaturase. This study, for the first time, examined the level of expression of human delta-6-desaturase as well as delta-4-desaturase in human breast cancer. Breast tumours (n=102) which comprised of 88 ductal and 14 lobular carcinomas, as well as normal breast tissues (n=31), together with breast cancer cell lines were analysed for the level of expression of delta-6- and delta-4-desaturases using RT-PCR and quantitative PCR. A lower level of delta-6-desaturase was seen in breast tumour compared with normal tissues. Tumours from patients who had a poor prognostic index and from those who died of breast cancer had the lowest level of delta-6-desaturase (median follow-up 72 months). In addition, TNM3 and TNM4 tumours had significantly lower level of delta-6-desaturase than TNM1 tumours. Interestingly, ductal tumours displayed significantly higher level of the enzyme than lobular tumours. In contrast, a stepwise increase of delta-4-desaturase was seen in tumour from patients with poor prognosis. It is concluded that aggressive breast tumours have a reduced level of delta-6-desaturase. This aberrant expression has clinical bearings to the outcome in patients with breast cancer.
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Authors | Jane Lane, Robert E Mansel, Wen G Jiang |
Journal | International journal of molecular medicine
(Int J Mol Med)
Vol. 12
Issue 2
Pg. 253-7
(Aug 2003)
ISSN: 1107-3756 [Print] Greece |
PMID | 12851727
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Fatty Acid Desaturases
- Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase
- delta-4 fatty acid desaturase
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Topics |
- Breast Neoplasms
(enzymology, pathology)
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast
(enzymology, pathology)
- Carcinoma, Lobular
(enzymology, pathology)
- Fatty Acid Desaturases
(genetics)
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Linoleoyl-CoA Desaturase
- Neoplasm Staging
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Prognosis
- Reference Values
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