Correlation of TERT and Stem Cell Markers in the Context of Human Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has a well-known role in carcinogenesis due to its functions in inducing cell immortality and preventing senescence. In this study, the relationships between TERT and a panel of known stem cell markers was examined in order to direct future enquiries into the role of 'stem-ness' in human breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer tissues (n=124) and adjacent normal tissues (n=30) underwent reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Transcript levels were analyzed for the correlation with that of TERT. Results: A significant direct correlation was found in cancerous tissue between TERT and BMI1 proto-oncogene polycomb ring finger 4 (BMI1; n=88, p<0.001), nestin (NES; n=88, p<0.001), POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1 (POU5F1; n=88, p<0.001), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2 (ALDH1A2; n=87, p=0.0298), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A; n=88, p<0.001), integrin subunit beta 1 (ITGNB1; n=88, p<0.001), integrin subunit alpha 6 (ITGA6; n=88, p<0.001), cluster of differentiation antigen 24 (CD24; n=88, p=0.0114), n=78, p<0.001) and noggin (NOG; n=88, p<0.001). Conclusion: The evidence presented in this article of possible interactions between TERT and a discrete subset of known stem cell markers would significantly contribute to further enquiries regarding clonal dynamics in the context of human breast cancer.Wazir et al: TERT and Markers of 'Stem-ness'

Stratification Using hTERT and Stem Cell Markers Confers a Good Prognosis in Invasive Breast Cancer

“…These were: cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24), cluster of differentiation 29 (CD29, also known as integrin subunit beta 1; ITGB1), cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), integrin subunit alpha 6 (ITGA6; also known as CD49F), BMI1, NES (previously known as neuroectodermal stem cell marker), POU5F1 (also known as OCT4), ALDH1A2, MET proto-oncogene (MET, also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor), CDKN1A (also known as p21), and noggin (NOG). They are enumerated in Table II (7).…”

“…In our previous study, we studied the mRNA expression of hTERT, a regulator of cell aging, and that of a panel of 30 known stem cell markers in breast cancer tissue samples from a cohort of 124 patients (7). Previous studies had already established hTERT as a marker of poor prognosis in human breast cancer (8).…”

“…hTERT has an important role in cell immortality and senescence, and has been demonstrated to have a role in oncogenesis (8). Our study identified a subset of stem cell markers which have significant associations with hTERT in human breast cancer (7). These markers were B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (mouse) (BMI1), nestin (NES), POU class 5 homeobox 1 (POU5F1), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2 (ALDH1A2) and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A).…”

“…Recently, we have studied the relations between a panel of stem cell markers and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in the context of breast cancer (7). hTERT has an important role in cell immortality and senescence, and has been demonstrated to have a role in oncogenesis (8).…”

“…In the current study, we aimed to examine the role of hTERT and the 5 stem cell makers identified above in human breast cancer by analysing the association of their mRNA expression with clinical outcomes and survival in breast cancer (7).…”