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Baker R, Dell'Acqua G, Richards A, Thornton MJ. Nutraceuticals known to promote hair growth do not interfere with the inhibitory action of tamoxifen in MCF7, T47D and BT483 breast cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297080. [PMID: 38408073 PMCID: PMC10896530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hair loss/thinning is a common side effect of tamoxifen in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer therapy. Some nutraceuticals known to promote hair growth are avoided during breast cancer therapy for fear of phytoestrogenic activity. However, not all botanical ingredients have similarities to estrogens, and in fact, no information exists as to the true interaction of these ingredients with tamoxifen. Therefore, this study sought to ascertain the effect of nutraceuticals (+/- estrogen/tamoxifen), on proliferation of breast cancer cells and the relative expression of ERα/β. METHODS Kelp, Astaxanthin, Saw Palmetto, Tocotrienols, Maca, Horsetail, Resveratrol, Curcumin and Ashwagandha were assessed on proliferation of MCF7, T47D and BT483 breast cancer cell lines +/- 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen. Each extract was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) prior to use. Cellular ERα and ERβ expression was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Changes in the cellular localisation of ERα:ERβ and their ratio following incubation with the nutraceuticals was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Estradiol stimulated DNA synthesis in three different breast cancer cell lines: MCF7, T47D and BT483, which was inhibited by tamoxifen; this was mirrored by a specific ERa agonist in T47D and BT483 cells. Overall, nutraceuticals did not interfere with tamoxifen inhibition of estrogen; some even induced further inhibition when combined with tamoxifen. The ERα:ERβ ratio was higher at mRNA and protein level in all cell lines. However, incubation with nutraceuticals induced a shift to higher ERβ expression and a localization of ERs around the nuclear periphery. CONCLUSIONS As ERα is the key driver of estrogen-dependent breast cancer, if nutraceuticals have a higher affinity for ERβ they may offer a protective effect, particularly if they synergize and augment the actions of tamoxifen. Since ERβ is the predominant ER in the hair follicle, further studies confirming whether nutraceuticals can shift the ratio towards ERβ in hair follicle cells would support a role for them in hair growth. Although more research is needed to assess safety and efficacy, this promising data suggests the potential of nutraceuticals as adjuvant therapy for hair loss in breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Baker
- Centre for Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - M Julie Thornton
- Centre for Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
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2
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Anticancer or carcinogenic? The role of estrogen receptor β in breast cancer progression. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 242:108350. [PMID: 36690079 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is closely related to breast cancer (BC) progression. Traditional concepts regard ERβ as a tumor suppressor. As studies show the carcinogenic effect of ERβ, some people have come to a new conclusion that ERβ serves as a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer, while it is a carcinogen in ERα-negative breast cancer. However, we re-examine the role of ERβ and find this conclusion to be misleading based on the last decade's research. A large number of studies have shown that ERβ plays an anticancer role in both ERα-positive and ERα-negative breast cancers, and its carcinogenicity does not depend solely on the presence of ERα. Herein, we review the anticancer and oncogenic effects of ERβ on breast cancer progression in the past ten years, discuss the mechanism respectively, analyze the main reasons for the inconsistency and update ERβ selective ligand library. We believe a detailed and continuously updated review will help correct the one-sided understanding of ERβ, promoting ERβ-targeted breast cancer therapy.
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3
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Agrawal D, Kumari R, Ratre P, Rehman A, Srivastava RK, Reszka E, Goryacheva IY, Mishra PK. Cell-free circulating miRNAs-lncRNAs-mRNAs as predictive markers for breast cancer risk assessment in women exposed to indoor air pollution. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 6:100267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
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4
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Ng CW, Wong KK. Impact of estrogen receptor expression on prognosis of ovarian cancer according to antibody clone used for immunohistochemistry: a meta-analysis. J Ovarian Res 2022; 15:63. [PMID: 35610648 PMCID: PMC9128086 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01001-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes ER⍺ and ERβ in ovarian cancer has previously been evaluated by meta-analyses. However, the results are contradictory and controversial. METHODS We conducted an updated meta-analysis with stringent inclusion criteria to ensure homogeneous studies to determine the effect of ER subtypes on ovarian cancer prognosis. Articles were retrieved by systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science for articles dated up to June 2021. Only studies with known hazard ratio (HR) and antibody clone for immunochemistry (IHC) were included. Pooled HRs with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the effect of ER⍺ and ERβ expression on ovarian cancer patient progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS A total of 17 studies were included, of which 11 and 13 studies examined the relationships between ER⍺ expression and PFS and OS, respectively, and 5 and 7 studies examined the relationships between ERβ expression and PFS and OS, respectively. Neither ER⍺ expression (random-effects model; HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.83-1.18) nor ERβ expression (fixed-effects model; HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.69-1.27) was associated with PFS. Random-effects models showed that ER⍺ expression (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.64-1.02) and ERβ expression (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.50-1.13) were only marginally and not significantly associated with better OS. Subgroup analysis revealed that ER⍺ expression determined using antibody clone 1D5 (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.88) and ERβ expression determined using ERβ1-specific-antibody clone PPG5/10 or EMR02 (HR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.50-0.86) were associated with significantly better OS, but ER expression determined using other antibodies was not. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, a higher ER⍺ expression and ERβ expression are significantly associated with a better survival of ovarian cancer patients, but the results from previous prognostic studies are significantly dependent on the choice of specific ER antibody clones used in immunohistochemistry analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Wai Ng
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, Room T4-3900, Clinical Research Building, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kwong-Kwok Wong
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine, Room T4-3900, Clinical Research Building, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
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5
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Chimento A, De Luca A, Avena P, De Amicis F, Casaburi I, Sirianni R, Pezzi V. Estrogen Receptors-Mediated Apoptosis in Hormone-Dependent Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1242. [PMID: 35163166 PMCID: PMC8835409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It is known that estrogen stimulates growth and inhibits apoptosis through estrogen receptor(ER)-mediated mechanisms in many cancer cell types. Interestingly, there is strong evidence that estrogens can also induce apoptosis, activating different ER isoforms in cancer cells. It has been observed that E2/ERα complex activates multiple pathways involved in both cell cycle progression and apoptotic cascade prevention, while E2/ERβ complex in many cases directs the cells to apoptosis. However, the exact mechanism of estrogen-induced tumor regression is not completely known. Nevertheless, ERs expression levels of specific splice variants and their cellular localization differentially affect outcome of estrogen-dependent tumors. The goal of this review is to provide a general overview of current knowledge on ERs-mediated apoptosis that occurs in main hormone dependent-cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of ER-mediated cell death will be useful for the development of specific ligands capable of triggering apoptosis to counteract estrogen-dependent tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Chimento
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Arianna De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Paola Avena
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Francesca De Amicis
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Ivan Casaburi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Rosa Sirianni
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pezzi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy
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6
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Hirao-Suzuki M. Estrogen Receptor β as a Possible Double-Edged Sword Molecule in Breast Cancer: A Mechanism of Alteration of Its Role by Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Biol Pharm Bull 2021; 44:1594-1597. [PMID: 34719637 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b21-00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen is essential for the growth and development of mammary glands and its signaling is associated with breast cancer growth. Estrogen can exert physiological actions via estrogen receptors α/β (ERα/β). There is experimental evidence suggesting that in ERα/β-positive breast cancer, ERα promotes tumor cell proliferation and ERβ inhibits ERα-mediated transcriptional activity, resulting in abrogation of cell growth. Therefore, ERβ is attracting attention as a potential tumor suppressor, and as a biomarker and therapeutic target in the ERα/β-positive breast cancer. Based on this information, we have hypothesized that some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can perturb the balance between ERα and ERβ expression levels in breast cancer cells might have effects on the breast cancer proliferation (i.e., down-regulation of the α-type of ER). We have recently reported that 4-methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene (MBP), an active metabolite of bisphenol A, in ERα/β-positive human breast cancer significantly down-regulates ERα expression, yet stimulates cell proliferation through the activation of ERβ-mediated transcription. These results support our hypothesis by demonstrating that exposure to MBP altered the functional role of ERβ in breast cancer cells from suppressor to promoter. In contrast, some EDCs, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and bisphenol AF, can exhibit anti-estrogenic effects through up-regulation of ERβ expression without affecting the ERα expression levels. However, there is no consensus on the correlation between ERβ expression levels and clinical prognosis, which might be due to differences in exposed chemicals. Therefore, elucidating the exposure effects of EDCs can reveal the reason for inconsistent functional role of ERβ in ERα/β-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayo Hirao-Suzuki
- Laboratory of Xenobiotic Metabolism and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hiroshima International University
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7
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Iwase T, Harano K, Masuda H, Kida K, Hess KR, Wang Y, Dirix L, Van Laere SJ, Lucci A, Krishnamurthy S, Woodward WA, Layman RM, Bertucci F, Ueno NT. Quantitative hormone receptor (HR) expression and gene expression analysis in HR+ inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) vs non-IBC. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:430. [PMID: 32423453 PMCID: PMC7236459 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-06940-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic role of hormone receptor (HR) on inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) to elucidate its aggressive biological behavior. Methods We evaluated the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) by immunohistochemical staining and determined the predictive and prognostic role of HR expression on 189 patients with HR+/HER2– IBC and 677 patients with HR+/HER2– stage III non-IBC. Furthermore, we performed gene expression (GE) analyses on 137 patients with HR+/HER2– IBC and 252 patients with HR+/HER2– non-IBC to detect genes that are specifically overexpressed in IBC. Results The expression of ER% was significantly associated with longer distant disease-free survival and overall survival. However, there was no significant relationship between ER% and neoadjuvant chemotherapy outcome. In the GE study, 84 genes were identified as significantly distinguishing HR+ IBC from non-IBC. Among the top 15 canonical pathways expressed in IBC, the ERK/MAPK, PDGF, insulin receptor, and IL-7 signaling pathways were associated with the ER signaling pathway. Upregulation of the MYC gene was observed in three of these four pathways. Furthermore, HR+/HER2– IBC had significantly higher MYC amplification, and the genetic alteration was associated with poor survival outcome. Conclusions Higher ER expression was significantly associated with improved survival in both HR+/HER2– IBC and HR+/HER2– stage III non-IBC patients. HR+/HER2– IBC had several activated pathways with MYC upregulation, and the genetic alteration was associated with poor survival outcome. The results indicate that MYC may be a key gene for understanding the biology of HR+/HER2– IBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Iwase
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kenichi Harano
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hiroko Masuda
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kumiko Kida
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kenneth R Hess
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Luc Dirix
- Department of Oncology, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Steven J Van Laere
- Department of Oncology, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Anthony Lucci
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Savitri Krishnamurthy
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Anatomical Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wendy A Woodward
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rachel M Layman
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - François Bertucci
- Laboratory of Predictive Oncology, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Université, F-13009, Marseille, France
| | - Naoto T Ueno
- Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Section of Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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8
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Collins F, Itani N, Esnal-Zufiaurre A, Gibson DA, Fitzgerald C, Saunders PTK. The ERβ5 splice variant increases oestrogen responsiveness of ERαpos Ishikawa cells. Endocr Relat Cancer 2020; 27:55-66. [PMID: 31778358 PMCID: PMC6933808 DOI: 10.1530/erc-19-0291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is a common gynaeological malignancy: life time exposure to oestrogen is a key risk factor. Oestrogen action is mediated by receptors encoded by ESR1 (ERα) and ESR2 (ERβ): ERα plays a key role in regulating endometrial cell proliferation. A truncated splice variant isoform (ERβ5) encoded by ESR2 is highly expressed in cancers. This study explored whether ERβ5 alters oestrogen responsiveness of endometrial epithelial cells. Immunhistochemistry profiling of human endometrial cancer tissue biopsies identified epithelial cells co-expressing ERβ5 and ERα in stage I endometrial adenocarcinomas and post menopausal endometrium. Induced co-expression of ERβ5 in ERαpos endometrial cancer cells (Ishikawa) significantly increased ligand-dependent activation of an ERE-luciferase reporter stimulated by either E2 or the ERα-selective agonist 1,3,5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-propyl-1H-pyrazole (PPT) compared to untransfected cells. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis of tagged yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-ERβ5 transfected into Ishikawa cells revealed that incubation with E2 induced a transient reduction in intra-nuclear mobility characterised by punctate protein redistribution which phenocopied the behaviour of ERα following ligand activation with E2. In ERαneg MDA-MD-231 breast cancer cells, there was no E2-dependent change in mobility of YFP-ERβ5 and no activation of the ERE reporter in cells expressing ERβ5. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ERβ5 can act as heterodimeric partner to ERα in Ishikawa cells and increases their sensitivity to E2. We speculate that expression of ERβ5 in endometrial epithelial cells may increase the risk of malignant transformation and suggest that immunostaining for ERβ5 should be included in diagnostic assessment of women with early grade cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Collins
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nozomi Itani
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Arantza Esnal-Zufiaurre
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Douglas A Gibson
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Carol Fitzgerald
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Philippa T K Saunders
- The University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence should be addressed to P T K Saunders:
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9
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Zhu B, Tse LA, Wang D, Koka H, Zhang T, Abubakar M, Lee P, Wang F, Wu C, Tsang KH, Chan WC, Law SH, Li M, Li W, Wu S, Liu Z, Huang B, Zhang H, Tang E, Kan Z, Lee S, Park YH, Nam SJ, Wang M, Sun X, Jones K, Zhu B, Hutchinson A, Hicks B, Prokunina-Olsson L, Shi J, Garcia-Closas M, Chanock S, Yang XR. Immune gene expression profiling reveals heterogeneity in luminal breast tumors. Breast Cancer Res 2019; 21:147. [PMID: 31856876 PMCID: PMC6924001 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1218-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Heterogeneity of immune gene expression patterns of luminal breast cancer (BC), which is clinically heterogeneous and overall considered as low immunogenic, has not been well studied especially in non-European populations. Here, we aimed at characterizing the immune gene expression profile of luminal BC in an Asian population and associating it with patient characteristics and tumor genomic features. Methods We performed immune gene expression profiling of tumor and adjacent normal tissue in 92 luminal BC patients from Hong Kong using RNA-sequencing data and used unsupervised consensus clustering to stratify tumors. We then used luminal patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, N = 564) and a Korean breast cancer study (KBC, N = 112) as replication datasets. Results Based on the expression of 130 immune-related genes, luminal tumors were stratified into three distinct immune subtypes. Tumors in one subtype showed higher level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), characterized by T cell gene activation, higher expression of immune checkpoint genes, higher nonsynonymous mutation burden, and higher APOBEC-signature mutations, compared with other luminal tumors. The high-TIL subtype was also associated with lower ESR1/ESR2 expression ratio and increasing body mass index. The comparison of the immune profile in tumor and matched normal tissue suggested a tumor-derived activation of specific immune responses, which was only seen in high-TIL patients. Tumors in a second subtype were characterized by increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes and enrichment for TP53 somatic mutations. The presence of three immune subtypes within luminal BC was replicated in TCGA and KBC, although the pattern was more similar in Asian populations. The germline APOBEC3B deletion polymorphism, which is prevalent in East Asian populations and was previously linked to immune activation, was not associated with immune subtypes in our study. This result does not support the hypothesis that the germline APOBEC3B deletion polymorphism is the driving force for immune activation in breast tumors in Asian populations. Conclusion Our findings suggest that immune gene expression and associated genomic features could be useful to further stratify luminal BC beyond the current luminal A/B classification and a subset of luminal BC patients may benefit from checkpoint immunotherapy, at least in Asian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhu
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Lap Ah Tse
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Difei Wang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Hela Koka
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Tongwu Zhang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mustapha Abubakar
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Priscilla Lee
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cherry Wu
- North District Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | - Mengjie Li
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wentao Li
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Suyang Wu
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhiguang Liu
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bixia Huang
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Eric Tang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Zhengyan Kan
- Pfizer Oncology Research, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | | | - Yeon Hee Park
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Seok Jin Nam
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Mingyi Wang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Xuezheng Sun
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kristine Jones
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Bin Zhu
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Amy Hutchinson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Belynda Hicks
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.,Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jianxin Shi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Montserrat Garcia-Closas
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Stephen Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Xiaohong R Yang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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Guillette TC, Jackson TW, Belcher SM. Duality of estrogen receptor β action in cancer progression. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2018; 41:66-73. [PMID: 29772419 PMCID: PMC8008732 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The physiological actions of estrogens are primarily mediated by the nuclear hormone receptors estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). Activities of these nuclear steroid hormone receptors in etiology and progression of many hormone-responsive cancers are well-established, yet the specific role of each receptor, and their various expressed isoforms, in estrogen-responsive cancers remains unclear. Recent advances in nuclear receptor profiling, characterization of expressed splice variants, and the availability of new experimental cancer models, has extended the understanding of the complex interplay between the differentially expressed nuclear estrogen receptors. In this review, we discuss proposed roles of ERβ in several subtypes of cancers that lack significant ERα expression and define current understanding of how different ERs collaborate to regulate cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T C Guillette
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA.
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11
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Girgert R, Emons G, Gründker C. Estrogen Signaling in ERα-Negative Breast Cancer: ERβ and GPER. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:781. [PMID: 30687231 PMCID: PMC6333678 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptors are important regulators of the growth of breast tumors. Three different receptors for estrogens have been identified in breast tumors, two nuclear receptors, ERα and ERβ, and a G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) that initiates non-genomic effects of estrogens in the cytosol. Recent findings show that the stimulation of cytoplasmic ERα and ERβ also triggers non-genomic signaling pathways. The treatment of breast cancer with anti-estrogens depends on the presence of ERα. About 40% of all breast cancers, however, do not express ERα. One subgroup of these tumors overexpress Her-2, another important group is designated as triple-negative breast cancer, as they neither express ERα, nor progesterone receptors, nor do they overexpress Her-2. This review addresses the signaling of ERβ and GPER in ERα-negative breast tumors. In addition to the well-established EGF-receptor transactivation pathways of GPER, more recent findings of GPER-dependent activation of FOXO3a, the Hippo-pathway, and HOTAIR-activation are summarized.
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12
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Rajizadeh A, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Zavar-reza J, Shiryazdi SM. Comparison of hematological parameters, iron levels, and oxidative stress in women with and without breast cancer: A case- control study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2017; 31:114. [PMID: 29951415 PMCID: PMC6014764 DOI: 10.14196/mjiri.31.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Iron is one of the nutrients that has recently received considerable attention because of its dual role in the incidence of breast cancer. The present study aimed at comparing hematological parameters, iron levels, and oxidative stress in women with and without breast cancer. Methods: The participants in this case-control study were 55 women, of whom 26 were new cases of breast cancer (confirmed by biopsy) as the case, and 29 without cancer (confirmed by mammography) as the control group. All participants underwent blood testing for complete blood count (CBC (free iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity) TIBC (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: The mean±SD age of the participants was 44.25±9.82 years, and there was no significant difference between groups. Also, no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in variables, except the mean corpuscular volume of red cells (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH). The use of iron supplements was significantly higher in the control than in the case group (p= 0. 01), with an odds ratio of 0.19% (95% CI: 0.45-0.7). The mean serum DPPH was significantly higher in the control than in the case group (p= 0. 006), but comparison of serum MDA showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia was greater in patients with breast cancer than in those without it. Moreover, iron supplementation appears to have a protective effect against breast cancer incidence. In addition, serum DPPH, as a total antioxidant index, was significantly higher in the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsaneh Rajizadeh
- Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Hassan Mozaffari-Khosravi
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Yazd Diabetic Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Javad Zavar-reza
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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13
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Molina L, Figueroa CD, Bhoola KD, Ehrenfeld P. GPER-1/GPR30 a novel estrogen receptor sited in the cell membrane: therapeutic coupling to breast cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:755-766. [PMID: 28671018 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1350264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is clinically classified as 'estrogen-positive' when at least 1% of cancer cells stain for the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). However, recent research on both basic and clinical aspects of breast cancer suggests that GPER-1 (G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1) may have an important role in breast cancer. Areas covered: This review provides a comprehensive and systematic literature search on GPER-1. We have focused on the role of GPER-1 in breast cancer and on resistance to endocrine therapy, an unsolved clinical issue still under discussion. Expert opinion: The discovery of GPER-1 as a novel estrogen receptor is unique and the signaling pathways activated by its stimulation, when compared to the classical nuclear ERα, indicate a potential role of GPER-1 in the genesis and mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer. Tumors expressing ERα represent the largest group of breast cancer patients indicating that more women eventually die from ERα-positive breast tumors than from other more malignant breast cancer subtypes such as HER2-positive and the triple negative groups. It is important to develop new strategies on endocrine therapy with regard to ERα and GPER-1 receptors to achieve innovative successful therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Molina
- a Laboratory of Cellular Pathology, Institute of Anatomy, Histology & Pathology , Universidad Austral de Chile , Valdivia , Chile
| | - Carlos D Figueroa
- a Laboratory of Cellular Pathology, Institute of Anatomy, Histology & Pathology , Universidad Austral de Chile , Valdivia , Chile
| | - Kanti D Bhoola
- a Laboratory of Cellular Pathology, Institute of Anatomy, Histology & Pathology , Universidad Austral de Chile , Valdivia , Chile
| | - Pamela Ehrenfeld
- a Laboratory of Cellular Pathology, Institute of Anatomy, Histology & Pathology , Universidad Austral de Chile , Valdivia , Chile
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14
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Andersson S, Sundberg M, Pristovsek N, Ibrahim A, Jonsson P, Katona B, Clausson CM, Zieba A, Ramström M, Söderberg O, Williams C, Asplund A. Insufficient antibody validation challenges oestrogen receptor beta research. Nat Commun 2017. [PMID: 28643774 PMCID: PMC5501969 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of oestrogen receptor β (ERβ/ESR2) was a landmark discovery. Its reported expression and homology with breast cancer pharmacological target ERα (ESR1) raised hopes for improved endocrine therapies. After 20 years of intense research, this has not materialized. We here perform a rigorous validation of 13 anti-ERβ antibodies, using well-characterized controls and a panel of validation methods. We conclude that only one antibody, the rarely used monoclonal PPZ0506, specifically targets ERβ in immunohistochemistry. Applying this antibody for protein expression profiling in 44 normal and 21 malignant human tissues, we detect ERβ protein in testis, ovary, lymphoid cells, granulosa cell tumours, and a subset of malignant melanoma and thyroid cancers. We do not find evidence of expression in normal or cancerous human breast. This expression pattern aligns well with RNA-seq data, but contradicts a multitude of studies. Our study highlights how inadequately validated antibodies can lead an exciting field astray. A large body of work into the role of oestrogen receptor b (ERb) in breast cancer is contradictory, hindering future progress. Here the authors conduct extensive validation of anti-ERb antibodies , and show that normal and cancerous breast tissue do not express ERb, consistent with RNA-seq data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Andersson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Sundberg
- Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nusa Pristovsek
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ahmed Ibrahim
- Division of Proteomics and Nanotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden.,Division of Pharmaceutical Industries, National Research Centre, Dokki 12622, Egypt
| | - Philip Jonsson
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
| | - Borbala Katona
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carl-Magnus Clausson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agata Zieba
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Margareta Ramström
- Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ola Söderberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Williams
- Division of Proteomics and Nanotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA.,Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Asplund
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Elebro K, Borgquist S, Rosendahl AH, Markkula A, Simonsson M, Jirström K, Rose C, Ingvar C, Jernström H. High Estrogen Receptor β Expression Is Prognostic among Adjuvant Chemotherapy-Treated Patients-Results from a Population-Based Breast Cancer Cohort. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 23:766-777. [PMID: 27810901 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Isoform-specific tumor estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression may hold prognostic information in breast cancer, especially among endocrine-treated breast cancer patients. The study's purpose was to evaluate ERβ isoform 1 (ERβ1) expression in relation to tumor characteristics, ESR2 genotypes, and prognosis in different treatment groups. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A population-based prospective cohort of 1,026 patients diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in Lund, Sweden, between October 2002 and June 2012 was followed until June 2014 (median 5 years). Associations between immunohistochemical ERβ1 expression, patient and tumor characteristics, as well as outcome within treatment groups were analyzed. RESULTS Tumor ERβ1 expression was available for 911 patients (89%) and was not associated with ESR2 genotypes. ERβ1 positivity, defined as >75% (ERβ175+, 72.7%), was positively associated with established favorable tumor characteristics. Overall, ERβ175+ was associated with lower risk of breast cancer events [HRadj = 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41-0.89]. The magnitude of the association was larger in patients with ERα- tumors (HRadj = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.12-0.76), compared with ERα+ tumors (HRadj = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.42-1.03). Among the 232 chemotherapy-treated patients, ERβ175+ tumors were associated with lower risk of breast cancer events compared with ERβ175- tumors (HRadj = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.64). Among the 671 chemonaïve patients, ERβ175 status was not associated with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS High ERβ1 expression was a favorable prognostic marker in this breast cancer cohort, especially in chemotherapy-treated patients, but not in endocrine therapy-treated patients. These results warrant confirmation, preferably via a biomarker study in a previously conducted randomized trial. Clin Cancer Res; 23(3); 766-77. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Elebro
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Signe Borgquist
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Oncology and Hematology, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Ann H Rosendahl
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andrea Markkula
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Simonsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Jirström
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carsten Rose
- CREATE Health and Department of Immunotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian Ingvar
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Helena Jernström
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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