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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
The BIRC Family Genes Expression in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Anna Makuch-Kocka1, Janusz Kocki2, Anna Brzozowska3
1Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Abstract:
The BIRC (baculoviral IAP repeat-containing; BIRC) family genes encode for Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins. The dysregulation of the expression levels of the genes in question in cancer tissue as compared to normal tissue suggests that the apoptosis process in cancer cells was disturbed, which may be associated with the development and chemoresistance of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In our study, we determined the expression level of eight genes from the BIRC family using the Real-Time PCR method in patients with TNBC and compared the obtained results with clinical data. Additionally, using bioinformatics tools (Ualcan and The Breast Cancer Gene-Expression Miner v4.5 (bc-GenExMiner v4.5)), we compared our data with the data in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We observed diverse expression pattern among the studied genes in breast cancer tissue. Comparing the expression level of the studied genes with the clinical data, we found that in patients diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50, the expression levels of all studied genes were higher compared to patients diagnosed after the age of 50. We observed that in patients with invasion of neoplastic cells into lymphatic vessels and fat tissue, the expression levels of BIRC family genes were lower compared to patients in whom these features were not noted. Statistically significant differences in gene expression were also noted in patients classified into three groups depending on the basis of the Scarff-Bloom and Richardson (SBR) Grading System.
Insights
The study investigated baculoviral IAP repeat-containing (BIRC) gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). BIRC gene expression varied with patient age, tumor invasion, and grading, suggesting a role in TNBC progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing (BIRC) genes encode Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins.
- Dysregulated BIRC gene expression is implicated in cancer development and chemoresistance, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the expression levels of eight BIRC family genes in TNBC patients.
- To correlate BIRC gene expression with clinical data and public databases.
Main Methods:
- Real-Time PCR was used to quantify BIRC gene expression in TNBC patient samples.
- Bioinformatics tools (Ualcan, bc-GenExMiner v4.5) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were utilized for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- Diverse expression patterns were observed among the studied BIRC genes in breast cancer tissue.
- Higher BIRC gene expression was found in patients under 50 compared to those over 50.
- Lower BIRC gene expression correlated with neoplastic cell invasion into lymphatic vessels and fat tissue.
- Statistically significant differences in BIRC gene expression were noted based on the Scarff-Bloom and Richardson (SBR) Grading System.
Conclusions:
- BIRC gene expression exhibits distinct patterns in TNBC, influenced by patient age, tumor invasion, and histological grade.
- These findings highlight the potential role of BIRC genes in TNBC pathogenesis and progression.
