Editorial

A gene signature of loss of oestrogen receptor (ER) function and oxidative stress links ER-positive breast tumours with an absent progesterone receptor and a poor prognosis

Patrick Neven , Toon Van Gorp and Karen Deraedt

Multidisciplinary Breast Centre and Gynaecological Oncology, UZ Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B – 3000 Leuven, Belgium

author email corresponding author email

Breast Cancer Research 2008, 10:109doi:10.1186/bcr2135

Published:	4 September 2008

See related research article by Yau and Benz, http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/10/4/R61

Abstract

Prognostic gene signatures like the wound and hypoxia signature differ by assumptions of cellular growth. Although gene signatures show little overlap, they also track within the group of luminal breast tumours those with a high proliferation and poor prognosis. Oxidative stress is another assumption of cellular growth. It affects several pathological conditions through its influence on the regulation of protein kinases and signal transduction pathways. A comprehensive set of 62 core genes from cultured oestrogen- and oestrogen receptor-deprived epithelial breast cancer cells is responsive to three forms of oxidative stress. Evidence is presented that oxidative stress involves the development of an aggressive subset of primary oestrogen receptor-positive breast tumours.