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Wenyi Qin

Publications and source records attributed to Wenyi Qin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Mitochondrial DNA mutations in breast cancer tissue and in matched nipple aspirate fluid.

Unlike nuclear (n)DNA, of which there is one paired copy per cell, there are many copies of mitochondrial (mt)DNA per cell, making PCR amplification of mtDNA easier in samples of limited cellularity. The aims of this study were to (i) determine the mutation patterns of breast cancers through a comprehensive screen of mtDNA mutations, and (ii) assess if mutations in the cancers are also detectable in breast nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), a physiologic fluid which contains shed ductal epithelial cells. Fifteen breast cancers, matched benign tissues and NAF were collected. Nine overlapping primer sets were used to sequence the entire mitochondrial genome from tissue samples. For NAF samples, we focused on the 19 nucleotide positions (np) where mutations were found in a 3701 bp region (np 15331 to 2463), which includes the displacement (D)-loop, a mtDNA mutation hot spot. Fourteen of the fifteen (93%) cancer samples had > or =1 somatic mtDNA mutation for a total of 45 at 35 np (9 np reported previously, 26 new). Nine of fifteen tumors had > or =2 mutations. The D-loop contained 17 of 45 (38%) and non-D-loop (coding) regions contained 28 (62%) mutations. Of the 28 mutations in the coding loci, 11 led to an amino acid change. The frequency of mtDNA mutations was higher in the D-loop region (1.5 versus 0.18% of loci). 155 polymorphisms were identified (98 reported previously, 57 new). Sixteen of forty-five (36%) mutations were located at polymorphism sites. Four of nineteen mtDNA mutations in 10 cancers located between np 15331 and 2463 were found in matched NAF (two of eleven mutations in the D-loop and two of eight in non-D-loop regions). No mutations were found in five matched NAF samples from women whose cancers lacked a mutation in the same region. In conclusion, mtDNA mutations in breast cancer occur both within and outside of the D-loop, though the mutation rate in the D-loop is over 7-fold higher than in coding areas. We identified 26 new mutation loci (25 in regions sequenced by others, one in an area not). The high frequency of mtDNA mutations at polymorphic loci requires further investigation. Specific mtDNA mutations can be detected in a subset of NAF samples from women with breast cancer.

Base Sequence↗

Large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations and nuclear genome instability in human breast cancer.

Deletion mutations in mitochondrial (mt) DNA (mtDNA) as well as microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in nuclear DNA (nDNA) exist in human cancer. We determined if: (1) large-scale mtDNA deletion mutations were present in cancerous and not in normal breast tissue, and (2) combining mt- and nDNA findings would provide complementary information to identify breast cancer. Thirty-nine matched breast cancer/histologically normal and 23 "true" normal tissue samples from women without breast cancer were microdissected and DNA extracted. 4977, approximately 3938, approximately 4388 and approximately 4576bp deletions were observed, with the 4576bp deletion being present in 0% of true normal, 13% of histologically normal specimens from a cancerous breast and 77% of breast cancers. The other three deletions were not specific to a breast containing cancer. LOH was found in 66.7% and MSI in 38.5% of samples. 38/39 (97.4%) tumors had at least one nDNA or 4576bp mtDNA alteration, suggesting that mt- and nDNA analysis provides complementary information in breast cancer detection. The 4576bp deletion appears to indicate cancer in the breast. The higher mtDNA copy number in cancer coupled with a mtDNA deletion mutation which appears specific for breasts which contain cancer may prove to be a good target to screen for cancer in the breast, including specimens of low and/or mixed cellularity.

Alleles↗

External imaging of CCND1 cancer gene activity in experimental human breast cancer xenografts with 99mTc-peptide-peptide nucleic acid-peptide chimeras.

UNLABELLED: Detection of a new or recurrent breast cancer lesion relies on physical examination and imaging studies, primarily mammography, followed by histopathologic evaluation of biopsy tissue for morphologic confirmation. Approximately 66%-85% of detected lesions are not malignant. Therefore, biopsies are unnecessary for at least two thirds of patients. Human estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells typically display an elevated level of cyclin D1 protein because of the overexpression of CCND1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and an elevated level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) receptor (IGF1R) because of the overexpression of IGF1R mRNA. We hypothesized that scintigraphic detection of CCND1 peptide nucleic acid (PNA) hybridization probes with a (99m)Tc-chelating peptide on the N terminus and an IGF1 peptide loop on the C terminus could detect CCND1 mRNA in human MCF7 breast cancer xenografts in nude mice from outside the body. METHODS: We prepared the CCND1 probes as well as mismatched controls by solid-phase synthesis. We used fluorescence microscopy to detect the cellular uptake of fluoresceinyl probes and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to detect the hybridization of probes to mRNA. We imaged (99m)Tc-probes in MCF7 xenografts scintigraphically and measured distribution by scintillation counting of dissected tissues. RESULTS: IGF1R-overexpressing MCF7 cells internalized the fluorescein-chelator-CCND1 PNA-IGF1 peptide but not the mismatched control peptide. The chelator-CCND1 PNA-IGF1 peptide but not the control peptide lowered the level of cyclin D1 protein in IGF1R-overexpressing MCF7 xenografts in nude mice after intratumoral injection. IGF1R-overexpressing MCF7 xenografts in nude mice were visualized at 4, 12, and 24 h after tail vein administration of the (99m)Tc-CCND1 antisense probe but not the control probe. (99m)Tc-chimeras were distributed normally in the kidneys, liver, tumors, and other tissues. CONCLUSION: Cancer gene activity can be detected from outside the body by probing with radionuclide-chelator-PNA-peptide chimeras.

Animals↗

Microsatellite changes in nipple aspirate fluid and breast tissue from women with breast carcinoma or its precursors.

PURPOSE: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) have been identified in a variety of human cancers. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine whether (a) DNA can be isolated from nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and PCR amplified to large fragments, (b) LOH and MSI are detectable in NAF, and (c) LOH and MSI in tissue and NAF increase with disease progression from precursor lesions to cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Forty-six matched samples from breast lesions, normal breast, and NAF were microdissected, and DNA was extracted. Eleven microsatellite markers from seven chromosomes that have a high frequency of LOH/MSI in breast cancer were designed and respectively amplified. RESULTS: LOH and/or MSI were identified in 22 of 46 (48%) breast lesions, including LOH in 8 of 36 (22%) proliferative/papilloma (P/Pap) and 7 of 10 (70%) cancer specimens, whereas MSI was found in 14 of 36 (39%) P/Pap and 6 of 10 (60%) cancer specimens. LOH/MSI loci in which alterations were detected in the 22 tissue specimens were PCR amplified using matched NAF DNA. LOH/MSI was detected in NAF from both P/Pap (5 of 15; 33%) and breast cancer (3 of 7; 43%) samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that (a) DNA from NAF, a physiological fluid collected noninvasively, can be PCR amplified and used to screen for LOH and MSI alterations that are known to be linked to breast cancer, suggesting that this methodology might prove useful for breast cancer screening, and (b) similar to findings in breast tissue, LOH and MSI alterations increase in frequency with disease progression in NAF, which suggests that NAF is a surrogate for breast tissue which has important prognostic implications.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Imaging oncogene expression.

In 2003, approximately 39,800 women in the US will die from breast cancer. Mammography and physical examination miss up to 40% of early breast cancers. Moreover, if an abnormality is found, an invasive diagnostic procedure must still be performed to determine if the breast contains atypia or cancer, even though approximately 85% of abnormalities are benign. Scintigraphic imaging of gene expression in vivo by noninvasive means could direct physicians to appropriate targets for intervention at the onset of disease and thereby significantly impact patient management. Until now, no method has been available to image specific overexpressed oncogene mRNAs in vivo by scintigraphic imaging. We hypothesize that gamma-emitting Tc-99m-PNA-peptides can be taken up by human ER+ and ER- breast cancer xenografts, hybridize to complementary mRNA targets in those cells, and concentrate sufficiently in tumor tissue to allow noninvasive imaging of oncogene overexpression. To prepare the probes, peptide analogs of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) were extended from a solid support by Fmoc coupling. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) dodecamers antisense to CCND1 and MYC mRNAs were then extended from the N-terminus of IGF1, followed by a chelator peptide, using Fmoc coupling for all residues. The cysteine thiols were cyclized on the solid support, either before or after PNA extension. This simplified synthetic approach allows preparation of a variety of multipeptide disulfide-bridged PNA chimeras. A chelating peptide-PNA chimera antisense to MYC mRNA was then labeled efficiently with Tc-99m, yielding a single product. Tissue distribution studies of antisense and mismatch chimeras at 4 h and 24 h after administration displayed modest accumulation in the liver and kidneys, with appreciable levels in tumors. This result enables testing of Tc-99m-peptide-PNA probes to image gene expression in tumors.

Animals↗

Nipple aspirate fluid expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor predicts breast cancer diagnosis and advanced disease.

BACKGROUND: Tumor expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and uPA receptor (uPAR) are breast cancer prognostic factors. Less is known about their usefulness in breast cancer diagnosis. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) is secreted into the breast duct and collected noninvasively, making it potentially useful both in breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We determined the association of uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR levels in NAF with breast cancer (1) detection and (2) advanced disease. METHODS: A total of 88 NAF specimens were collected from women with or without breast cancer, and uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: uPA and uPAR were independent predictors of cancer presence; uPAR was also an independent predictor of advanced disease stage. Higher PAI-1 expression in breast cancer that was found with univariate analysis was not observed after logistic regression was applied. CONCLUSIONS: NAF evaluation of uPA, uPAR, and, perhaps, PAI-1 (significant only in univariate analysis) may provide useful breast cancer diagnostic and prognostic information.

Adult↗

High basic fibroblast growth factor levels in nipple aspirate fluid are correlated with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The angiogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor are important in malignant breast epithelial growth. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) is a physiologic fluid collected noninvasively that contains proteins secreted by the breast ductal epithelium and may contain markers of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether high concentrations of bFGF and vascular endothelial growth factor in NAF would be associated with in situ and invasive breast cancer, and whether prostate-specific antigen, a marker in NAF associated with breast cancer, would improve our ability to determine which subjects had the disease. METHODS: Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the effects of race, menopausal status, bFGF concentration, and prostate-specific antigen on cancer risk. Bivariate analysis was also performed to determine the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor concentration and cancer risk. RESULTS: Mean NAF bFGF levels were higher in women with breast cancer than in those without (19.2 vs 1.74 ng/g). Vascular endothelial growth factor was not associated with breast cancer. Race and menopausal status did not significantly affect the relationship between bFGF and cancer risk. bFGF, race, and menopausal status were each independent predictors of breast cancer, with bFGF being the most important. With knowledge of all three variables, the model was 89.9% sensitive and 69.0% specific in predicting which women had breast cancer. Adding prostate-specific antigen increased the sensitivity to 90.9% and the specificity to 83.3%. In subjects with NAF bFGF > 150 ng/g and prostate-specific antigen < 100 ng/g, 94.1% (32/34) of subjects had cancer. For women with NAF prostate-specific antigen > 100 ng/ g and bFGF < 150 ng/g, 90.5% were cancer free. CONCLUSIONS: bFGF concentration in NAF is directly associated with breast cancer, regardless of race and menopausal status. NAF bFGF may prove helpful in the early detection of breast cancer.

Adult↗

Association of uPA, PAT-1, and uPAR in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and uPA receptor (uPAR) are prognostic factors in various cancer types, especially breast cancer. Less is known about the usefulness of these markers in breast cancer diagnosis. We sought to determine (1) whether uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR were detectable in breast nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), a physiologic fluid produced by the breast and collected noninvasively, and (2) the association of these markers in NAF with the presence of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty NAF specimens were collected from women with and women without breast cancer. uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR expression in NAF was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Median NAF PAI-1, but not uPA or uPAR, expression was higher in subjects with breast cancer than in those without breast cancer, regardless of whether expression was controlled for total NAF protein level. Median expression of PAI-1 per milligram of total NAF protein was higher in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women who had breast cancer than in women who did not. A multiple logistic regression model that included age, race, menopausal status, uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR level to differentiate patients with regard to cancer risk revealed that uPA, PAI-1, and age were each associated with risk (P < or = 0.019). Women whose NAF contained elevated uPA and PAI-1 levels were more likely to have cancer than women in whom both markers were not elevated. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that PAI-1, alone or in combination with uPA, may be useful as a noninvasive biologic marker to aid in the detection of breast cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗