Over-Expression of POU Class 1 Homeobox 1 Transcription Factor (Pit-1) Predicts Poor Prognosis for Breast Cancer Patients

摘要

BACKGROUND The POU class 1 homeobox 1 transcription factor ([i]POU1F1[/i], also known as [i]Pit-1[/i]) was reported to be associated with tumor progression and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of [i]Pit-1[/i] in breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The relative expression levels of [i]Pit-1[/i] in breast cancer patients were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Chi-square analysis was used to analyze the association between [i]Pit-1[/i] expression and clinical features. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival of the patients and Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the prognostic value of [i]Pit-1[/i]. RESULTS Increased expression of [i]Pit-1[/i] was detected in the tumor tissues compared with the normal tissues (1.086 [i]vs.[/i] 0.541) and the abnormal expression was associated with tumor size, clinical stage, tumor grade, and lymph node metastasis ([i]P[/i]<0.05). High expression level of [i]Pit-1[/i] was significantly associated with poor overall survival of the patients ([i]P[/i]=0.001) and Cox regression analysis indicated that [i]Pit-1[/i] might be a prognostic factor for breast cancer prognosis (HR=1.955, 95% CI=1.295–3.035, [i]P[/i]=0.003). CONCLUSIONS [i]Pit-1[/i] may be a potential prognostic biomarker for breast cancer patients and it is associated with tumor progression.