Abstract

The Growth arrest specific 8 (GAS8) and its anti-sense transcript (GAS8-AS1) are located in a genomic region that is frequently mutated in breast cancer. These transcripts have established tumor suppressor effects in some human malignancies. In the current investigation, we aimed at identification of the role of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 in breast cancer. We measured gene expression of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 in paired tumoral and non-tumoral tissues obtained from 88 breast cancer patients by means of real time PCR. No significant differences were identified in expressions of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 in tumoral samples compared with non-tumoral tissues (Fold changes = 1.53 and 1.71; P values = .28 and 0.14 respectively). Transcript levels of GAS8-AS1 was significantly correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) status (P = .01). Expression of GAS8 gene was associated with history of oral contraceptive use (P = .04). The similar expressions of GAS8 and GAS8-AS1 genes in tumoral and non-tumoral tissues of breast in spite of previous reports regarding their fundamental tumor suppressor roles in other tissues show that these genes are not involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. So, these genes have distinct roles in diverse tissues.