Fig. 4

mRNA expressions of elongases in breast cancer and corresponding normal breast tissue. The mRNA expression levels of ELOVL1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the TN tumors, EP + H- tumors, and the corresponding normal breast tissue samples were evaluated using real-time RT-PCR. Asterisks indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among the TN tumors, EP + H- tumors, and the corresponding normal breast tissue samples. The sharp sign indicates a significant difference in ELOVL6 expression (p < 0.05) between the corresponding TN and EP + H- samples. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparisons of the mRNA expression levels of ELOVLs between pairs of breast cancer tissue samples and normal breast tissue samples, and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for comparisons of the mRNA expression levels of ELOVLs between the TN and EP + H- tumors