OBJECTIVETo detect breast cancer specific gene 1 (BCSG1) expression in different breast tissue, analysis its correlation with clinical parameters and evaluate the prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODSThe expression of BCSG1 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in surgical specimens from 84 cases of breast disease patients selected randomly at XinHua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Second Medical University from September 1999 to December 2002. Of 84 cases, 72 case were breast cancer. Statistic analysis BCSG1 gene expression correlation with clinical parameters of breast cancer. 72 breast cancers were followed up (4 - 43 months) to set up independent prognosis factor by survival analysis.

RESULTSBCSG1 was undetectable in all benign breast lesions, while was detectable in 36.1% of all breast cancer samples (26/72), in which 79.2% of stage III/IV cases were positive (19/24). The expression of BCSG1 was tightly correlated with the stage (P = 0.000) and the size of tumor (P = 0.007). Both ER (P = 0.027) and BCSG1 (P = 0.001) were the independent prognosis factor of breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONBCSG1 is one of independent tumor marker of breast cancer, the expression of BCSG1 is closely correlated to the stage of breast cancer and the tumor size. Maybe, BCSG1 is a new prognosis factor of breast cancer.