High BRCA2 mRNA expression predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer patients

The prognostic significance of BRCA2 mRNA levels in tumor tissues was studied in sporadic breast cancer patients. BRCA2 mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. Histologic grade III tumors showed significantly (p = 0.001) higher BRCA2 mRNA levels (0.828 +/- 0.102 BRCA2/beta-glucuronidase mRNA ratio, mean +/- SE) than histologic grade I and II tumors (0.438 +/- 0.055) and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors (0.773 +/- 0.102) showed a nonsignificant (p = 0.072) trend toward an increase in BRCA2 mRNA levels compared to ER-positive tumors (0.541 +/- 0.079). Other clinicopathologic parameters, such as menopausal status, lymph node status and tumor size, were not significantly associated with BRCA2 mRNA levels. Patients with high BRCA2 mRNA levels showed a significantly (p = 0.006) lower 5-year disease free survival rate (63%) than those with low levels (94%). Lymph node metastases, ER negativity and high histologic grade were also significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that BRCA2 mRNA levels were a significant prognostic factor, being independent of the other conventional prognostic factors. Our results suggest that BRCA2 mRNA levels might serve as a clinically useful prognostic factor in breast cancer patients. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.