Poly(A)polymerase activity levels in breast tumour cytosols

Citation
A. Scorilas et al., Poly(A)polymerase activity levels in breast tumour cytosols, J EXP CL C, 17(4), 1998, pp. 511-518
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
ISSN journal
03929078 → ACNP
Volume
17
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
511 - 518
Database
ISI
SICI code
0392-9078(199812)17:4<511:PALIBT>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
The enzyme poly(A) polymerase (PAP) catalyses the polyadenylation of mRNA a nd its activity levels vary within the cell cycle. The levels of activity o f this enzyme were measured in the cytosol of breast tumours from 62 untrea ted patients and compared to clinical prognostic parameters as well as othe r biological markers. The enzyme levels measured ranged from 3 to 46 units/ mg protein. A statistically significant association was observed between hi gh PAP activity values and the TNM stage of the disease as well as node inv asiveness. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between PAP activi ty values and c-erbB-2 overexpression but not with its amplification. No si gnificant correlation was observed with c-myc amplification or overexpressi on and cathepsin D levels. A direct relationship between steroid receptor c ontent and PAP activity levels, which was more prominent in the case of the progesterone receptor, was observed. However, also on the basis of previou s data PAP activity may prove to be indicative of aggressive disease. Furth ermore, measurements of PAP activity may contribute to the definition of th e biological profile of tumour cells.