Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the role of mtDNA in breast cancer.
Methods
We carried out an investigation into the mtDNA major control region or D-loop region and an essential and the largest mtDNA protein-coding gene, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5), together with a mitochondrial haplogroup analysis in 64 patients with breast cancer (BC) and 54 patients with benign breast disease (BBD) as controls.
Results
Mutations in D-loop region were found in 10/64 or 15.6% of patients with BC and 14/54 or 25.9% of patients with BBD, while mutations in ND5 were detected in 6/64 or 9.4% of patients with BC and 5/54 or 9.3% of patients with BBD. In addition, in patients with BBD, mtDNA mutations were more likely to rise in D-loop region and the mutations were more likely to be heteroplasmic. However, in patients with BC, those with metastatic feature were less likely to carry mutations in D-loop region. Finally, we found haplogroup M has an increased risk of breast cancer compared with haplogroup N.
Conclusion
mtDNA mutation may play a role in early stage of tumorigenesis, and mitochondrial haplogroup can also modulate breast cancer occurrence.
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Acknowledgments
This work has been supported by Zhejiang provincial top key discipline of laboratory medicine and Zhejiang provincial program for the cultivation of high-level innovative health talents, and Yidong Bai has been supported by a NIH grant (R01 AG025223).
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We declare that we have no conflict of interest.
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L. Shen and J. Wei contributed equally to this work.
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Shen, L., Wei, J., Chen, T. et al. Evaluating mitochondrial DNA in patients with breast cancer and benign breast disease. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 137, 669–675 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-010-0912-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-010-0912-x