Fig. 6

PICK1 expression in human breast cancer tissues and its correlation with miR-615-3p expression. (a) The qRT-PCR analysis of PICK1 levels in human breast cancer tissues and corresponding non-cancerous tissues (n = 21). (b) The qRT-PCR analysis of PICK1 mRNA levels in breast cancer tissues with (n = 21) or without (n = 21) lymphatic metastasis. (c) The qRT-PCR analysis of PICK1 mRNA levels in breast cancer patients at different clinical stages (WHO I, n = 11; WHO II, n = 20; and WHO III, n = 11). (d) The qRT-PCR analysis of PICK1 mRNA levels in breast cancer patients with low and high miR-615-3p levels. The relationship between PICK1 and miR-615-3p was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation. (e) Representative IHC images of PICK1 in normal and breast cancer tissues with various scores (100× magnifications). The staining scoring was obtained by intensity*the percentage of positive cells. The intensity of the IHC staining was graded as 0 (no staining), 1 (weak staining = light yellow), 2 (moderate staining = yellow brown) and 3 (strong staining = brown). The proportion of positively stained tumor cells in a field was scored as less than 5% scored 0, 5–20% scored 1, 20–50% scored 2, 50–75% scored 3, and > 75% scored 4. (f) IHC scores of the PICK1 protein level in breast cancer patients with low and high miR-615-3p levels