Interindividual Difference in Metabolism of Carcinogens as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer
Abstract
The proposed study seeks to address the interaction of environmental and genetic factors in the etiology of breast cancer. Cytochrome P45O isozyme (CYP1B1) metabolizes environmental and endogenously formed carcinogens in the breast. We are testing the hypothesis that individuals with higher levels of CYP1B1 are at a higher risk for breast cancer because they produce higher amounts of ultimate carcinogen. The expression level of CYP1B1 is being determined in a collection of normal breast tissue samples from reduction mammoplasties and from mastectomy patients and CYP1B1 expression is compared in specimen from cancer patients and healthy controls to establish if breast cancer patients have an increased level of the enzyme. During the last year a previously developed assay that uses reverse transcription (RT)-PCR to quantitate expression relative to the Beta-actin gene, was optimized for quantitation of CYP1B1. CYP1B1 and in parallel CYP1Al expression was determined in 30 specimen. CYP1B1 transcript levels ranged from 1.5 to 99. CYP1A1 levels had an even larger interindividual range. In most specimen CYP1B1 expression was 2-6 fold that of CYPlAl. CYP1B1 expression was significantly higher in the breast cancer group than in the healthy control group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB259834
Entities
People
- Regine Goth-goldstein
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley