The Potential of Differentiation-Related Gene-1 (DRG1) as a Biomarker for Metastasis of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Hillary Bor
Department of Zoology, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333-40105, Maseno, Kenya.
Esther N. Maina
Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Benson Nyambega
Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333-40105, Maseno, Kenya.
Kirtika Tushar Patel
Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Charles Ochieng’ Olwal
Department of Zoology, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333-40105, Maseno, Kenya.
Walter Nalyanya
Department of Human Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606-30100, Eldoret, Kenya.
Yahaya Gavamukulya *
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University. P.O. Box 1460, Mbale, Uganda.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer is major burden worldwide and the majority of breast cancers express estrogen receptors (ER) suggesting a high dependence on estrogen hormone. Age is among the major determinants of breast cancer development, however, although Western Kenya is one of the areas with high breast cancer cases, age distribution of ER-positive breast cancer in the sub-region remains largely undocumented. Differentiation-related gene-1 (DRG1) is a metastasis suppressor and thus a potential biomarker for predicting level of metastasis but its potential application in assessing extent of metastasis of ER positive breast cancer has not been fully explored. This study therefore investigated the age distribution and the potential of expression of DRG1 in assessing metastasis of ER positive breast cancer.
Materials and Methods: Breast cancer tumour blocks archived in safe cabins in the histology laboratory section, Moi Teaching and Referral hospital, Eldoret, Kenya were used. Clinico-pathological parameters such as histology grade, tumor size, which are associated with metastatic cancer, were assessed using the archived clinico-pathological reports and/or histological analysis of the tumour blocks. Expression of DRG1 and Ki-67 proteins were determined using immunohistochemistry.
Results: ER positive breast cancer was predominant among women aged 40 and 50 years. No association was observed between immunohistochemical expression of DRG1 and parameters such as histology grade, tumor size or expression of Ki-67 protein expressed DRG1 (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that expression of DRG1 protein is not associated with parameters that indicate breast cancer metastasis. Thus, DRG1 expression is not a potential biomarker candidate for ER positive breast cancer metastasis. However, since the small sample size was used, further research using larger prospective study is necessary to support the present findings.
Keywords: Differentiation related gene-1 (DRG1), estrogen receptor positive breast cancer; western kenya, age.