Figure 4

Semi-quantitative mRNA expression of NUCKS in primary cultures from different biopsies. (A) The RT-PCR products, generated with NUCKS and GAPDH gene specific primers, were electrophorized in a 2% agarose gel. GAPDH mRNA was used as an internal control. The most representative cases are illustrated. (B) Graphical presentation of the ratio of NUCKS to GAPDH mRNA levels corresponding to the samples illustrated in (A), as median values of 3 independent experiments (p = 0.05). The mRNA levels were quantitated semiquantitatively as described in the Methods section. TC01, primary culture of normal tissue; TC05, primary culture of fibroadenoma; TC11 and TC13, derived from primary cultures from biopsies with benign epithelial proliferations; TC16, TC20, TC27-TC31 derived from primary cultures from IDC, grade II biopsies; TC32 and TC36 derived from IDC, grade III. The clinicopathological variables of the samples are summarized in Additional file 1. MDA MB-231 and MCF-7 represent cell lines used as a positive control for NUCKS expression. (C) Median values of the ratio of NUCKS to GAPDH mRNA levels in the studied groups (p = 0.05).