Association of gene polymorphisms in prolactin and its receptor with breast cancer risk in Taiwanese women

Abstract

Given the essential role of prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) in breast tumorigenesis, we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PRL and PRLR genes were associated with breast cancer in Taiwanese women. A total of 160 breast cancer patients and 336 unrelated control Taiwanese women were enrolled in this study. Three SNPs (rs1341238, rs2244502 and rs3756824) in the PRL gene and one SNP (rs10941235) in the PRLR gene were genotyped using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. We showed that the PRLR SNP rs10941235 was associated with breast cancer (P < 0.05) and its genotype frequencies in the breast cancer group were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the levels of cancer antigen 15-3, a serum biomarker of breast cancer. The PRL SNP rs3756824 was significantly associated with breast cancer metastasis (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the polymorphism rs10941235 in the PRLR gene is associated with breast cancer and cancer antigen 15-3 levels in Taiwanese women.

Truncating Prolactin Receptor Mutations Promote Tumor Growth in Murine Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Mammary Carcinomas

“…Activation of PRLR-JAK2-STAT3/5 signaling has been implicated in the up-regulation of steroid hormone receptor expression and malignant progression of breast cancer (Chan et al, 2014; Fiorillo et al, 2013). There is also support for an association between PRLR allelic variations and breast cancer risk (Bogorad et al, 2008; Lee et al, 2007; Mong et al, 2011; Vaclavicek et al, 2006). In lobular neoplasia, amplification of PRLR may also be important for pathogenesis and progression (Tran-Thanh et al, 2011).…”

Modeling Prolactin Actions in Breast Cancer In Vivo: Insights from the NRL-PRL Mouse

“…A recent follow-up study found that elevated circulating PRL ten years prior to diagnosis was associated with risk for metastatic ER+ disease [5]. Second, recent studies have identified polymorphisms in the PRLR and PRL genes associated with breast disease [6-8]. …”

The role of Prolactin/Prolactin Receptor polymorphisms and expression in breast cancer susceptibility and outcome

“…Several genetic polymorphisms in PRL/PRLR have been studied in various ethnic population for breast cancer susceptibility and aggressiveness (8)(9)(10). For example, PRL rs3756824 and rs2244502 polymorphisms were associated with different plasma PRL levels in a multiethnic cohort (8).…”

“…For example, PRL rs3756824 and rs2244502 polymorphisms were associated with different plasma PRL levels in a multiethnic cohort ( 8 ). Furthermore, PRL rs3756824 was correlated with breast cancer metastasis in Taiwanese population ( 9 ). PRLR rs37364 and rs249537 were correlated with breast cancer risk in Polish women ( 11 ).…”