Background and purpose:Breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common breast carci-noma, and the ultrasonographic features of its molecular subtypes has great clinical value. The purpose of this study was to discuss the correlation between ultrasonographic features of IDC and its molecular subtypes.Methods:Ultrasonographic features of 112 patients with preoperative integrated ultrasonographic information and pathologically confirmed IDC from Sep. 2012 to Feb. 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the immunohistochemistry results of ER (estrogen receptor), PR (progesterone receptor), HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) and Ki-67, these cases were categorized into 4 molecular subtypes: Luminal A group, Luminal B group, ERBB2 positive group and Basal-like group. Results:There were 14 cases (12.5%) in Luminal A group, 62 cases (55.4%) in Luminal B group, 21 cases (18.7%) in ERBB2 positive group and 15 cases (13.4%) in Basal-like group. The 4 molecular subtypes differed in tumor length, lymph node involvement, tumor boundary, tumor shape and internal blood flow on ultrasonography (P<0.05). There were no sig-nificant differences in tumor internal echo, posterior echo, micro-calcification and elastrography between subtypes (P>0.05).Luminal A group and Luminal B group had less lymph node involvement, more obscure boundary and irregular shape. More internal blood flow, bigger tumor size and lymph node involvement were observed in ERBB2 positive group of this study. Patients in Basal-like group were more likely to have clear tumor boundary, regular tumor shape, bigger tumor size and lymph node involvement on ultrasonogram.Conclusion:Correlation exists between ultrasonographic features and molec-ular subtypes of IDC. This has tremendous clinical significance in the early diagnosis of IDC, preoperative, intraoperative and prognosis evaluation of IDC patients.

Objective To explore the effect of circular RNA(circRNA)transcription factor 25(TCF25)-targeting microRNA-128b(miR-128b)on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.Methods MCF-7 cells were cultured until the loga-rithmic growth stage.Cells were randomly divided into the blank(untransfected),si-NC(transfected si-NC),si-circRNA TCF25(transfected si-circRNA TCF25),pcDNA-circRNA TCF25(transfected pcDNA-circRNA TCF25),miR-NC(transfected miR-NC),miR-128b mimic(transfected miR-128b mimic),miR-128b inhibitor(transfected miR-128b inhibitor),and pcDNA-circRNA TCF25+miR-128b mimic(transfected with pcDNA-circRNA TCF25 and miR-128b mimic)groups.Each group included six multiple pores.Forty-eight hours after transfection,the expression of circRNA TCF25 and miR-128b in each group was determined using real-time reverse transcription-quanti-tative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).An RNase R enzyme digestion assay was used to identify circular RNA.Subcellular locali-zation of circRNA TCF25 was determined through cytoplasmic-nuclear separation.Cell proliferative activity was measured using the 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.RT-qPCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN),proliferating nuclear antigen 67(Ki-67),andcaspase-3.Western blotting was performed to measure PTEN,Ki-67,caspase-3,and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression.The dual-luciferase reporter(DLR)assay was performed to analyze the relationship between circRNA TCF25 and miR-128b.Results Compared to the control group,the relative expression of circRNA TCF25 did not exhibit significant changes after RNase R enzyme treatment(P＞0.05),whereas that of linear TCF25 decreased after RNase R enzyme treatment(P＜0.05).The relative expression of circRNA TCF25 in the cytoplasm was higher than that in the nucleus(P＜0.05).Compared with the blank and si-NC groups,the cell proliferation activity of the si-circRNA TCF25 group decreased;the apoptosis rate increased;Ki-67mRNA and protein expression decreased;and PTEN,caspase-3,and cleaved caspase-3mRNA and protein expression increased.In addition,cell proliferation activity increased and apoptosis rate decreased in the pcDNA-circRNA TCF25 group.Ki-67 mRNA and protein expression were increased,and PTEN,caspase-3,and cleaved caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression decreased,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).Compared with the blank and miR-NC groups,the cell proliferation activity of the miR-128b mimic group decreased;the apoptosis rate increased;Ki-67mRNA and protein expression decreased;and PTEN,caspase-3,and cleaved caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression were increased,whereas the cell proliferation activity increased and apoptosis rate decreased in the miR-128b inhibitor group.Ki-67mRNA and protein expression were increased,and PTEN,caspase-3,and cleavedcaspase-3mRNA and protein expression decreased,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).Compared with the pcDNA circRNA TCF25 group,the cell proliferation activity of the pcDNA circRNA TCF25+miR-128b mimic group decreased;the apoptosis rate increased;Ki-67mRNA and protein expression decreased;and PTEN,caspase-3,and cleavedcaspase-3mRNA and protein expression increased,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).The DLR assay results confirmed that circRNA TCF25 targets miR-128b.Conclusion CircRNAs may play a key role in promoting the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and inhibiting their apoptosis by targeting miR-128b expression;promoting Ki-67 expression;and inhibiting PTEN,caspase-3,and cleaved caspase-3 expression.