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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
Upregulation of RHOXF2 and ODF4 Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues
Golnesa Kazemi-Oula1, Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard2, Maryam Beigom Mobasheri3
1Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objective:
During the past decade, the importance of biomarker discovery has been highlighted in many aspects of cancer research. Biomarkers may have a role in early detection of cancer, prognosis and survival evaluation as well as drug response. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) have gained attention as cancer biomarkers because of their expression in a wide variety of tumors and restricted expression in testis. The aim of this study was to find putative biomarkers for breast cancer.
Materials And Methods:
In this applied-descriptive study, the expression of 4 CTAs, namely acrosin binding protein (ACRBP), outer dense fiber 4 (ODF4), Rhox homeobox family member 2 (RHOXF2) and spermatogenesis associated 19 (SPATA19) were ana- lyzed at the transcript level in two breast cancer lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), 40 invasive ductal carcinoma samples and their adjacent normal tissues as well as 10 fibroadenoma samples by means of quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results:
All four genes were expressed in both cell lines. Expression of ODF4 and RH- OXF2 was detected in 62.5% and 60% of breast cancer tissues but in 22.5 and 17.5% of normal tissues examined respectively. The expression of both RHOXF2 and ODF4 was upregulated in cancerous tissues compared with their normal adjacent tissues by 3.31 and 2.96-fold respectively. The expression of both genes was correlated with HER2/neu overexpression. RHOXF2 expression but not ODF4 was correlated with higher stages of tumors. However, no significant association was seen between expression patterns and estrogen and progesterone receptors status.
Conclusion:
ODF4 and RHOXF2 are proposed as putative breast cancer biomarkers at the transcript level. However, their expression at protein level should be evaluated in future studies.
