Sperm-Associated Antigen ۹ as a Candidate Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Breast Cancer

Background: Cancer/testis antigens are a unique class of tumor antigens with normal expressions restricted to the testis and various cancers, but not in adult somatic tissues. Sperm-associated antigen ۹ (SPAG۹) has been introduced as a new member of Cancer Testis Antigens family involved in c-Jun-NH۲-kinase signaling module. The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of SPAG۹ as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. We further aimed to find any significant association between SPAG۹ expression and clinicopathologic features of the cancer. Methods: In this retrospective study, ۳۵ breast cancer tissues and ۳۵ adjacent non-cancerous tissues were collected and examined using RT-PCR to explore SPAG۹ mRNA expression. Statistical analysis was done utilizing SPSS ۲۲.۰ software. Results: Unexpectedly, we detected SPAG۹ expression in ۵۴% of adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Moreover, SPAG۹ mRNA was expressed in ۵۷% of cancerous tissues. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between SPAG۹ expression and tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and cancer stage. Conclusion: The association between the gene expression and tumor size, lymph, node and metastasis, and cancer stage suggests that SPAG۹ can potentially be considered as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. However, it may not be a candidate diagnostic biomarker.

کلیدواژه ها:

SPAG۹ ، Cancer/testis antigens ، Breast cancer ، Biomarker ، RT-PCR