PIK3CA and PTEN genes expressions in breast cancer

Background: The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) intracellular signaling pathway plays an important role in breast cancer. The current study aimed to evaluate the expressions of two main regulators of PI3K pathway; phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase catalytic subunit alpha as activator (PIK3CA), and phosphatase and tensin-homolog as inhibitor (PTEN), in breast carcinoma tissue, and compare with their expressions in adjacent normal breast tissue. Methods: A total of fifty female patients with breast carcinoma from surgical oncology unit of Alexandria-Main University Hospital were included in this study. The Quantitative Real Time PCR was used to quantify expressions of PIK3CA and PTEN. Results: PIK3CA mRNA expression was significantly increased in breast cancer tissues compared to normal breast tissues (P < 0.001, Z=5.700), also PTEN mRNA expression was significantly higher in breast carcinoma tissue compared to normal breast tissue (P < 0.001, Z=5.362). Conclusion: Increased the expressions of PIK3CA and PTEN mRNA in breast cancer tissue compared to normal breast tissue.