It is speculated that differential expression of PSA and telomerase genes in breast tumors are under control of steroid hormone receptors and could be used as a target for treatment in the future.
Characterization of androgen receptor and nuclear receptor co-regulator expression in human breast cancer cell lines exhibiting differential regulation of kallikreins 2 and 3.
The (TA)(9) allele has been reported to be associated with higher serum prostate-specific antigen levels in breast tumors and lower risk of relapse in breast cancer patients and more recently has also been reported to be linked to the codon 89 valine variant, which is itself associated with higher serum prostate-specific antigen levels in breast tumors and a more favorable breast cancer prognosis.
The purpose of this study was to analyze genetic variations in the promoter region of the PSA gene, and to detect whether such variations are correlated with PSA mRNA expression in breast tumors.
To determine abnormalities associated with PSA expression in breast tumours, genomic DNA was extracted and all five exons of the PSA gene were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified and sequenced on both strands.
We have recently reported that about 30-40% of female breast tumours produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and that PSA production is associated with the presence of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors.
Our results demonstrate that the presence of p53 in breast tumours relates to several other variables which are suspected to predict aggressive tumour phenotypes and that the presence of PSA relates to variables associated with good prognosis.