Affiliations: [a] Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan | [b] School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan | [c] Quaid-e-Azam, University, Islamabad, Pakistan | [d] Nuclear Medicine of Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), Islamabad, Pakistan
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Sheeba Murad, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, 44000 Islamabad, Pakistan. Tel.: +92 51 9085 6139; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the
transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) super family, which are
primarily known for their inherent role in osteogenesis and ontogenesis.
Accumulating evidence suggests the regulatory role of BMP-4 in cellular
proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and thus a possible oncogenic
role. OBJECTIVE: Variable cellular expression and in vitro functional assays
are indicative of the involvement of BMP related signaling in Breast cancer
(BC). The differential expression of BMP-4 in the peripheral blood of BC
patients may therefore be considered as a potential biomarker. Therefore,
this study aimed to evaluate transcriptional expression of BMP-4 and its
cognate receptor BMPR-II in the peripheral blood from the BC patients in
relation to the healthy individuals. METHODS: The expression pattern of BMP-4 and BMPR-II was analyzed in
the blood of breast cancer patients (n= 22) and healthy controls (n= 22)
through Semi Quantitative Reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: An up-regulated expression of BMP-4 and BMPR-II was
observed in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients especially in the
advanced-stage of the disease. Moreover, BMP-4 and BMPR-II expressions were
found to be correlated. CONCLUSION: The current preliminary results based on the
transcriptional analysis suggest the prospective use of BMP4 as a biomarker,
however further validation is required.
Keywords: BMP-4, BMPR-II, breast cancer (BC), RT-PCR, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
