ESTROGEN-REGULATED GENES IN BREAST-CANCER - ASSOCIATION OF PLIV1 WITHRESPONSE TO ENDOCRINE THERAPY

Northern hybridization analyses of the oestrogen-inducible mRNAs pLIV1 and pS2 were compared with oestrogen receptor (ER) immunocytochemistr y assessments in 40 untreated primary or early recurrent breast tumour s. Significant associations were observed between pLIV1/ER (P < 0.03), pS2/ER (P < 0.001) and pLIV1/pS2 (P < 0.04) status, After disease rec urrence, patients were treated with assessable courses of endocrine th erapies. Positive pLIV1, pS2 and ER statuses in primary disease were c onsequently found to be predictive of endocrine responsiveness in the secondary lesions (P < 0.03, P < 0.02, P < 0.005 respectively). Howeve r, despite these associations, a number of pLIV1-and/or pS2-positive t umours failed to respond to therapy.