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PI-PLCβ1 gene copy number alterations in breast cancer

Chiara Molinari1, Laura Medri, Matilde Y Follo

  • 1Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via P. Maroncelli 40, I-47014 Meldola (FC), Italy. c.molinari@irst.emr.it

Oncology Reports
|November 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Amplification of the PI-PLCβ1 gene, a key regulator in cell signaling, was frequently observed in breast cancer. This gene amplification correlated with higher mitotic activity, suggesting a role in tumor proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Signal transduction pathways are frequently deregulated in cancer, providing selective advantages to tumors.
  • Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C beta 1 (PI-PLCβ1) is a key regulator of phosphoinositides involved in numerous cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate PI-PLCβ1 gene copy number alterations in breast cancer using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
  • To analyze PI-PLCβ1 expression at the molecular level via real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry.
  • To correlate PI-PLCβ1 gene copy number with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect PI-PLCβ1 gene copy number.
  • Real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analyses to assess PI-PLCβ1 expression.
  • Correlation analysis between PI-PLCβ1 gene copy number and clinicopathological parameters.

Main Results:

  • Most breast cancer cases exhibited aneusomies at the PI-PLCβ1 locus (20p12).
  • Amplification of the PI-PLCβ1 gene region was the most frequent alteration observed.
  • PI-PLCβ1 gene amplification correlated significantly with the mitotic index, indicating a link to proliferative activity, rather than invasion status.

Conclusions:

  • PI-PLCβ1 gene amplification is a common event in breast cancer.
  • The amplification of PI-PLCβ1 is associated with increased tumor cell proliferation (mitotic index).
  • PI-PLCβ1 gene amplification shows a correlation with clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer, warranting further investigation in larger cohorts.

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