Investigation of the SPAG5 gene expression and amplification related to the NuMA mRNA levels in breast ductal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The cell proliferative markers are very important in breast cancer. Since SPAG5 and NuMA proteins play a significant role in the mitosis regulatory network and cell division, we aimed to study their mRNA levels as well as SPAG5 gene amplification correlated to clinicopathological status in ductal carcinoma of the breast. METHODS: SPAG5 and NuMA gene expressions were investigated in 40 breast cancer tissues and normal adjacent tissues via real-time PCR. PUM1 was selected as the reference gene. QMF PCR method was applied to study SPAG5 gene amplification and AGBL2, BOD1L, and POR were designated as internal control genes. Gene amplification was determined by calculating a dosage quotient for each DNA fragment. RESULTS: Increased SPAG5 mRNA expression was detected in breast cancer tissues (p = 0.005) and related to tumor size. No significant difference was observed between NuMA gene expression level in tumor tissue and the normal adjacent tissue (p = 0.56). However, we observed that NuMA expression was significantly increased in ER-positive tumor tissues. There was no clear correlation pattern between SPAG5 and NuMA mRNA levels (r = 0.33). Seventeen percent of tissues showed complete amplification in SPAG5 gene fragments. CONCLUSION: Our results were consistent with the previous publications regarding SPAG5 gene expression and amplification in breast cancer with an emphasis on the prominent role of this protein in tumor pathogenesis. Our results failed to yield any correlation between SPAG5 and NuMA mRNA levels which implies independence of these genes in breast cancer pathogenesis.