Polymorphic Analysis of Connexin 43 in Early as well as Advanced Stages of Breast Cancer in Kashmiri Population

Abstract

Background: Down-regulation of connexin-43 gap-junction protein is involved in primary tumor formation as well as metastasis in breast cancer patients and restoration of gap-junction intercellular communication by up-regulation of connexins has been shown to restore normal phenotypes. However the molecular mechanisms behind these processes remain unknown and a better understanding of the key events is necessary to design anti-cancer treatment models against breast cancer. Methods and Materials: In this study, Connexin 43 was analyzed for polymorphic changes using PCR method to establish its role (if any) in breast cancer in our cohort of population. Results: After sequence analysis, none of the screened samples revealed any kind of variations in early or advanced stage of the disease. Conclusion: Our studies imply that mutational deactivation does not play any role in the down regulation of Connexin 43 expression in breast cancer patients. Instead, some other regulatory mechanism like hypermethylation or mutation of the promoter region of the gene may be involved.