Open Access

Expression of and correlation between BCL6 and ZEB family members in patients with breast cancer

  • Authors:
    • Lin Ang
    • Li Zheng
    • Jin Wang
    • Jin Huang
    • Hong‑Guang Hu
    • Qiang Zou
    • Yang Zhao
    • Qiang‑Ming Liu
    • Min Zhao
    • Zheng‑Sheng Wu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 5, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5101
  • Pages: 3985-3992
  • Copyright: © Ang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

B‑cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6), a proto‑oncogene, is an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger protein that functions as a transcriptional repressor. BCL6 is the master regulator of B‑lymphocyte development, and it has been reported that BCL6 may serve an important role in breast cancer progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of BCL6, zinc finger E‑box‑binding homeobox (ZEB)1 and ZEB2 and their associations in breast cancer. The mRNA and protein expression of BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 was assessed using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in 228 patients with breast cancer and 80 patients with benign breast disease. In addition, the association between BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of patients with breast cancer were analyzed. The mRNA and protein expression of BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were significantly higher in breast cancer tissues compared with benign breast disease tissues (P<0.05). The expression of BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were significantly positively correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and a higher tumor stage (P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 protein‑positive primary tumors had significantly lower overall survival (P=0.001, 0.002 and 0.001, respectively) and relapse‑free survival (P=0.002, 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) rates. The mRNA expressions of ZEB1 (rs=0.326, P<0.001) and ZEB2 (rs=0.382, P<0.001) were significantly positively correlated with BCL6 mRNA expression, and the protein expressions of ZEB1 ((rs=0.449, P<0.001) and ZEB2 (rs=0.669, P<0.001) were significantly positively correlated with BCL6 protein expression. These results suggest that BCL6, ZEB1 and ZEB2 are potential biomarkers for the invasion, metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer, and that BCL6 may be a regulator of the ZEB family.
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November-2017
Volume 14 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Ang L, Zheng L, Wang J, Huang J, Hu HG, Zou Q, Zhao Y, Liu QM, Zhao M, Wu ZS, Wu ZS, et al: Expression of and correlation between BCL6 and ZEB family members in patients with breast cancer. Exp Ther Med 14: 3985-3992, 2017.
APA
Ang, L., Zheng, L., Wang, J., Huang, J., Hu, H., Zou, Q. ... Wu, Z. (2017). Expression of and correlation between BCL6 and ZEB family members in patients with breast cancer. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 3985-3992. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5101
MLA
Ang, L., Zheng, L., Wang, J., Huang, J., Hu, H., Zou, Q., Zhao, Y., Liu, Q., Zhao, M., Wu, Z."Expression of and correlation between BCL6 and ZEB family members in patients with breast cancer". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.5 (2017): 3985-3992.
Chicago
Ang, L., Zheng, L., Wang, J., Huang, J., Hu, H., Zou, Q., Zhao, Y., Liu, Q., Zhao, M., Wu, Z."Expression of and correlation between BCL6 and ZEB family members in patients with breast cancer". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 5 (2017): 3985-3992. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5101