TWIST1 is a highly conserved basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that contributes to cancer metastasis by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal transition and repressing E-cadherin gene expression in breast cancer.
Overexpression of Twist, a highly conserved basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and predicts poor prognosis in various kinds of cancers, including breast cancer.
We examined: (1) NEUROD1 methylation and mRNA expression in 9 breast cancer cell lines and 63 tumour specimens, (2) DNA methylation in a training set of 55 PCGT genes taken from the centre (TUC) and periphery (TUP) of 15 breast cancer specimens, and compared this with 22 non neoplastic controls, and finally, (3) validated statistically significant genes in an independent set of 20 cases versus 18 controls.
Estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers with high NEUROD1 methylation were 10.8-fold more likely to respond with a complete pathologic response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
In view of the conflicting reports in the literature concerning c-erb beta-2 gene amplification or protein over-expression (assessed by western blot or immunohistochemistry) and prognosis of breast cancer, studies in which these parameters are correlated individually with prognosis in the same group of patients are needed.