Author/Authors :
ghafouri-fard, s. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , sarrafzadeh, s. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , tasharrofi, b. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , soudyab, m. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , nikpayam , e. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , iranpour , m. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , mirfakhraie, r. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , gharesouran , j. Department of Medical Genetics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , geranpayeh , l. Department of Surgery - Sina Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , ghafouri-fard, s. Department of Community and Preventive Medicine - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Colon cancer-associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) is a newly recognized lncRNA transcribed from the
8q24 genomic region. It functions as an oncogene in various types of cancers including breast cancer, in which it
affects Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Previous studies have shown a putative interaction between this lncRNA and MYC
proto-oncogene. Methods: In the current study, we evaluated the expression of CCAT2 in breast cancer tissues
with regards to the expression of its target MYC. In addition, we assessed the relationship between CCAT2 and
MYC expression levels in tumor tissues and the clinical prognostic characteristics of breast cancer patients.
Results: MYC expression levels were significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous
tissues (ANCTs), while such analysis showed no statistically significant difference between these two
tissue types in CCAT2 expression. Starkly increased CCAT2 gene expression levels were found in 12/48 (25%) of
cancer tissue samples compared with their corresponding ANCTs. Furthermore, significant inverse correlations
were found between CCAT2 expression and stage, as well as lymph node involvement. Besides, a significant
inverse correlation was found between the relative MYC expression in tumor tissues compared with their
corresponding ANCTs and disease stage. Conclusions: These results highlight the significance of MYC and CCAT2
expressions in the early stages of breast cancer development and suggest a potentially significant role for CCAT2
in a subset of breast cancer patients, which could be applied as a potential therapeutic target in these patients.
