Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025
11:12
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
8.1K
Transcribed Ultraconserved Regions Are Associated with Clinicopathological Features in Breast Cancer
Erika Pereira Zambalde1, Douglas Adamoski2, Daniela Fiori Gradia1
1Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics and Oncogenetics, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 81531-980, PR, Brazil.
Biomolecules
|February 25, 2022
Summary
Transcriptionally active ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) show promise as breast cancer (BC) biomarkers. Specific T-UCRs correlate with patient age, tumor characteristics, and receptor status, aiding in BC subtype classification.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Ultraconserved regions (UCRs) are highly conserved genomic segments.
- Transcriptionally active UCRs (T-UCRs) produce non-coding RNAs.
- Previous work linked T-UCR expression to breast cancer (BC) parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the expression of 12 T-UCRs in BC.
- Correlate T-UCR expression with clinicopathological factors and survival.
- Evaluate T-UCRs as potential BC biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed expression of 12 T-UCRs in TCGA and Brazilian BC cohorts.
- Correlated T-UCR levels with clinicopathological parameters and immunohistochemical markers.
- Assessed T-UCR panel performance in distinguishing BC subtypes.
Main Results:
- uc.268 expression linked to younger age, ER/PR positivity, and Luminal A BC.
- Lower uc.84 and uc.376 associated with metastatic/stage IV Luminal B tumors.
- A panel of uc.147, uc.271, uc.427 differentiated Luminal A from triple-negative BC (AUC 0.9531).
Conclusions:
- T-UCRs demonstrate significant correlations with BC characteristics.
- Specific T-UCRs may serve as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for BC.
- T-UCR panels show potential for accurate BC subtype classification.
Related Concept Videos
02:51Multi-species Conserved Sequences
4.3K
Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved...
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved...
4.3K
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
4.2K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
4.2K
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
12.0K
As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
12.0K