Breast Cancer Biomarker Signatures for Invasiveness and Prognosis

Abstract

MicroRNA profiles transition from normal breast to ductal carcinoma in situ and transition to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and methods of use thereof are described. Methods of diagnosis and prognosis using microRNA signatures to differentiate invasive from in situ carcinoma are described. Also described is the use of microRNA expression for predicting overall survival and time to metastasis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining the likelihood of breast cancer progression, comprising:
 a) determining the expression levels of hsa-miR-210 and at least one gene selected from a group consisting of: RB1, BRCA1, FANCD, FANCF, PP2CA, PARP1, NLK, CDH1, EHMT1 and EGFRkin-, in a sample containing breast cancer cells from a subject with breast cancer, and b) comparing the expression levels from step a) to a standard miRNA and gene expression levels in a control sample, wherein higher expression of hsa-miR-210 in the subject with breast cancer, and decreased levels of at least one gene selected from a group consisting of: RB1, BRCA1, FANCD, FANCF, PP2CA, PARP1, NLK, CDH1, EHMT1 and EGFRkin-, as compared to the expression levels in the control sample, correlates with a higher risk of progression.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control sample comprises tissue from a representative individual or pool of individuals with breast cancer wherein the breast cancer has not progressed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control sample comprises tissue from the subject taken at an earlier point in time, as compared to the time of determining the expression level of step a). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the standard miRNA expression level is from the representative pool of individuals and is a mean, median or other statistically manipulated or otherwise summarized or aggregated representative miRNA expression level for the miRNA level in the control tissues in the subject.