Prognostic Significance of Telomere Attrition in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast
Abstract
We are using an innovative quantitative assay for telomere DNA content (TC) developed and characterized by the PI to test the hypothesis that TC predicts the likelihood of disease recurrence in women with DCIS. In Year One we collaborated to determine whether TC measured in bulk DCIS tumor tissue is comparable to that measured in tumor epithelial cells purified by laser-capture microscopy. In 7/10 instances TC in microdissected specimens was 72-112% of that in the undissected control (mean 85%). These results suggest that it will not be necessary to microdissect or otherwise fractionate DClS specimens prior to TC analysis. We are currently confirming and extending these results in our own laboratory. In Years One and Two we measured TC in 46 specimens of normal breast tissue 126 specimens of DCIS and 657 specimens of breast tumor tissues. In Year Two we used a Kaplan-Meier plot and log-rank test to show that low TC predicts a shorter survival interval. TC was not associated with ethnicity menopausal status or the expression of several other markers including estrogen receptor progesterone receptor p53 Ki67 and Her2. We are working with the New Mexico Tumor Registry to identify additional specimens of DCIS from women with longer follow-up to confirm and extend these results. In summary during Years One and Two we have shown that (i) meaningful TC measurements can be obtained with bulk DCIS issues (ii) TC is associated with tumor stage and (iii) TC in DCIS is associated with breast cancer-free survival.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA468993
Entities
People
- Jeffrey K. Griffith
Organizations
- University of New Mexico