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Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2010;3(4):328-337
Original Article
Piwil2 is expressed in various stages of breast cancers and has the potential to be used
as a novel biomarker
James J Liu, Rulong Shen, Li Chen, Yin Ye, Gang He, Keding Hua, David Jarjoura, Toru Nakano, Ganju K. Ramesh, Charles L. Shapiro,
Sanford H. Barsky, Jian-Xin Gao
Department of Pathology, Department of Internal Medicine, Biostatistic Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University
Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210; Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University,
Osaka, Japan
Received February 25, 2010, accepted March 15, 2010, available online: March 20, 2010
Abstract: Piwil2, a member of AGO/PIWI family of proteins, has been reported to be expressed in precancerous stem cells (pCSCs), tumor cell
lines and various types of human cancers. However, the significance of piwil2 expression in breast cancer has not been investigated. In this
study, archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens at various developmental stages were prepared as tissue
microarrays (TMAs) and examined for the expressions of piwil2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and a cell proliferation
marker Ki67 by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) by fluorescence in situ hybridization
(FISH). The correlation of piwil2 expression with ER, PR and Ki67 were analyzed statistically. The piwil2 was detected in all of breast cancer
TMA cores. In contrast, ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67 were detected only in 66.1%, 54.5%, 36.0%, and 47% of the TMA cores, respectively. Piwil2
was expressed in cytoplasm (Cyt), nucleus (N) or both cytoplasm and nucleus (C-N). The N pattern was less observed in breast precancers,
whereas all three patterns were observed in invasive and metastatic cancers. While the Cyt pattern was significantly correlated with ER
expression (p = 0.002); N pattern was significantly correlated with Ki67 expression (p =0.001). ER and Ki67 expressions were reduced and
increased, respectively, with the expression patterns being shifted from Cyt -C-N -N. In conclusion, piwil2 is expressed in various stages of
breast cancers and has the potential to be used a novel biomarker.(IJCEP1002004).
Key words: Piwil2, breast cancer, precancer, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, and Ki67.
Full text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Jian-Xin Gao, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ohio State University Medical Center
129 Hamilton Hall
1645 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH, 43210
Tel: 614-247-2341
Fax: 614-292-7027
E-mail: Jian-Xin.Gao@osumc.edu
Or:
Rulong Shen, MD
Department of Pathology
E-mail: Rulong.Shen@osumc.edu
Original Article
Piwil2 is expressed in various stages of breast cancers and has the potential to be used
as a novel biomarker
James J Liu, Rulong Shen, Li Chen, Yin Ye, Gang He, Keding Hua, David Jarjoura, Toru Nakano, Ganju K. Ramesh, Charles L. Shapiro,
Sanford H. Barsky, Jian-Xin Gao
Department of Pathology, Department of Internal Medicine, Biostatistic Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University
Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210; Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University,
Osaka, Japan
Received February 25, 2010, accepted March 15, 2010, available online: March 20, 2010
Abstract: Piwil2, a member of AGO/PIWI family of proteins, has been reported to be expressed in precancerous stem cells (pCSCs), tumor cell
lines and various types of human cancers. However, the significance of piwil2 expression in breast cancer has not been investigated. In this
study, archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens at various developmental stages were prepared as tissue
microarrays (TMAs) and examined for the expressions of piwil2, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and a cell proliferation
marker Ki67 by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) by fluorescence in situ hybridization
(FISH). The correlation of piwil2 expression with ER, PR and Ki67 were analyzed statistically. The piwil2 was detected in all of breast cancer
TMA cores. In contrast, ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67 were detected only in 66.1%, 54.5%, 36.0%, and 47% of the TMA cores, respectively. Piwil2
was expressed in cytoplasm (Cyt), nucleus (N) or both cytoplasm and nucleus (C-N). The N pattern was less observed in breast precancers,
whereas all three patterns were observed in invasive and metastatic cancers. While the Cyt pattern was significantly correlated with ER
expression (p = 0.002); N pattern was significantly correlated with Ki67 expression (p =0.001). ER and Ki67 expressions were reduced and
increased, respectively, with the expression patterns being shifted from Cyt -C-N -N. In conclusion, piwil2 is expressed in various stages of
breast cancers and has the potential to be used a novel biomarker.(IJCEP1002004).
Key words: Piwil2, breast cancer, precancer, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, and Ki67.
Full text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Jian-Xin Gao, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ohio State University Medical Center
129 Hamilton Hall
1645 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH, 43210
Tel: 614-247-2341
Fax: 614-292-7027
E-mail: Jian-Xin.Gao@osumc.edu
Or:
Rulong Shen, MD
Department of Pathology
E-mail: Rulong.Shen@osumc.edu
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