Potential prognostic value of repulsive guidance molecules in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Repulsive guidance molecules (RGMs) are novel co-receptors of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) which have been implicated in bone metastasis of cancer. This study aimed to investigate roles played by RGMs in breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of RGMs was examined in breast cancer cell lines using RT-PCR. The expression of RGMs in human breast cancer tissues was assessed using both quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS: RGMB was detectable in both cell lines and tissues samples of breast cancer. RGMA and RGMC were expressed in the breast tissues, but were undetectable in the examined breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, reduced expression of RGMA in breast cancer was associated with poor prognosis. RGMB transcript levels appeared to be lower in breast cancer with local recurrence and distant metastasis, but were relatively higher in the patients who died from the disease.

CONCLUSION: Aberrant expression of RGMs was indicated in breast cancer. The perturbed expression was associated with disease progression and poor prognosis.