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Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
High Expression of RECQL Protein in ER-Positive Breast Tumours Is Associated With a Better Survival
Ardalan Mahmoodi1,2, Ahmed Shoqafi3, Ping Sun1
1Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Background:
RECQL (also known as RECQ1 and RECQL1) is a gene of recent interest in breast cancer and an association between high levels of RECQL protein in breast cancer tumour cells and good survival of patients has been reported.
Methods:
To validate this association, we measured the RECQL protein levels in tumours of 933 breast cancer patients using immunohistochemistry analysis and followed the patients for death from breast cancer.
Results:
Women with a level of RECQL protein above the 75th percentile had better 15-year disease-specific survival among ER-positive patients (62.5% vs. 48.7%, HR= 0.72, 95%CI= 0.52-0.98, p-value = 0.04), but not among ER- patients (48.9% vs. 48.0%, HR= 1.07, 95%CI= 0.67-1.69, p-value= 0.79). Among the ER-negative patients, high RECQL protein levels were associated with better survival among women who received tamoxifen treatment (67.0% vs. 51.5%, HR= 0.64, 95%CI= 0.41-0.99, p-value= 0.04).
Conclusion:
RECQL might be a new predictive marker for tamoxifen treatment among ER-positive patients.
