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A Unique Form of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Is Present in Malignant Breast Cells¹

Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics [P. E. B., R. J. H., J. W. S., B. J. L., N. L., C. R-V., L. H. M.] and Microbiology and Immunology [R. F.], University of Maryland School of Medicine; Greenebaum Cancer Center [R. J. H.]; Program in Oncology, Greenebaum Cancer Center [R. F., L. H. M.]; Programs in Molecular Cellular Biology [R. J. H., R. F., L. H. M.] and Toxicology [R. J. H., L. H. M.], University of Maryland; and Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Comprehensive Breast Care Center [L. S.], Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Despite extensive research efforts to identify unique molecular alterations in breast cancer, to date, no characteristic has emerged that correlates exclusively with malignancy. Recently, it has been shown that the multiprotein DNA replication complex (synthesome) from breast cancer cells has a significantly decreased replication fidelity compared to that of nonmalignant breast cells. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) functions in DNA replication and DNA repair and is a component of the synthesome. Using two-dimensional PAGE analysis, we have identified a novel form of PCNA in malignant breast cells. This unique form is not the result of a genetic alteration, as demonstrated by DNA sequence analysis of the PCNA gene from malignant and nonmalignant breast cells. This novel form is most likely the result of an alteration in the post-translational modification of PCNA in malignant breast cells. These findings are significant in that it is now possible to link changes in the fidelity of DNA replication with a specific alteration of a component of the DNA synthetic apparatus of breast cancer cells. The novel form of PCNA may prove to be a new signature for malignant breast cells.

¹ This work was supported by Department of Defense Breast Cancer Fellowships (to P. E. B. and J. W. S.) and NIH Grants CA #57350 and CA #73060 (to L. H. M.) and CA #74904 (to R. J. H.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at The Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland, 655 West Baltimore Street, BRB Room 4-002, Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: (410) 706-2313; Fax: (410) 706-0032; E-mail: lmalkas@umaryland.edu.

Received 4/14/98. Accepted 6/24/98.

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