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Shukla N, Shah K, Rathore D, Soni K, Shah J, Vora H, Dave H. Androgen receptor: Structure, signaling, function and potential drug discovery biomarker in different breast cancer subtypes. Life Sci 2024; 348:122697. [PMID: 38710280 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Androgen Receptor (AR) is emerging as an important factor in the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC), which is the most common malignancy worldwide. >70 % of AR expression in primary and metastatic breast tumors has been observed which suggests that AR may be a new marker and a potential therapeutic target among AR-positive BC patients. Biological insight into AR-positive breast cancer reveals that AR may cross-talk with several vital signaling pathways, including key molecules and receptors. Downstream signaling of AR might also affect many clinically important pathways that are emerging as clinical targets in BC. AR exhibits different behaviors depending on the breast cancer molecular subtype. Preliminary clinical research using AR-targeted drugs, which have already been FDA-approved for prostate cancer (PC), has given promising results for AR-positive breast cancer patients. However, since AR positivity's prognostic and predictive value remains uncertain, it is difficult to identify and stratify patients who would benefit from AR-targeted therapies alone. Thus, the need of the hour is to target the androgen receptor as a monotherapy or in combination with other conventional therapies which has proven to be an effective clinical strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer patients, and these therapeutic strategies are increasingly being investigated in breast cancer. Therefore, in this manuscript, we review the role of AR in various cellular processes that promote tumorigenesis and aggressiveness, in different subtypes of breast cancer, as well as discuss ongoing efforts to target AR for the more effective treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirali Shukla
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Kanisha Shah
- Division of Biological & Life Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Central Campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009, India
| | - Deepshikha Rathore
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Kinal Soni
- Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Jigna Shah
- Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Hemangini Vora
- The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380016, India
| | - Heena Dave
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India.
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Mishra A, Mishra SK, Sharanappa V, Krishnani N, Kumari N, Agarwal G. Incidence and Prognostic Significance of Androgen Receptors (AR) in Indian Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Indian J Surg Oncol 2024; 15:250-257. [PMID: 38741650 PMCID: PMC11088609 DOI: 10.1007/s13193-024-01877-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular sub-characterization of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has great therapeutic and possibly prognostic implications. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype of TNBC and secondary aims were sub-categorization and clinico-pathologic correlation of LAR breast cancers. Retrospective study (January 2008 and 31st of December 2018) consisting of 157 TNBC patients. Androgen receptor (AR) expression was measured by immunohistochemical analysis. One percent cutoff was set as a positive expression. Sub-categorization was done on the basis of EGFR (> 15% of tumor cells) and Ki-67 expression (low- < 11%, intermediate- 11-20%, and high- > 21%). AR expression was correlated with various clinico-pathologic features and outcomes of the patients. The incidence of AR expression in TNBC was 24.8%. Considering different thresholds of > 5%, > 10%, and > 20% immunostaining, the incidence of AR positivity was 18.4, 15.2, and 11.5% respectively. The incidence of Ki-67 (p = 0.89) and EGFR (p = 0.643) expression did not differ significantly in AR-positive and -negative TNBC. Based on EGFR expression 19, 67 and 14% patients were categorized as low, intermediate, and high risk respectively. Low-risk (p ≤ 0.001) and low-grade (p = 0.014) tumors were more likely to have > 10% AR expression. Clinico-pathological profile, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, disease-free survival (p = 0.458), and overall survival (p = 0.806) did not significantly differ between AR expressing and negative TNBC. On multivariate analysis, only tumor staging was a significant predictor of survival (p = 0.012) and AR expression of > 10% revealed a trend towards improved survival (p = 0.07). When considering only AR-positive TNBC, AR expression of > 10% (p = 0.038), distant metastases (p = 0.003), and EGFR status (p = 0.024) were significantly associated with survival. AR expression does not seem to very strongly correlate with prognosis in TNBC and further studies could focus more on its predictive role in deciding anti-androgen therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Mishra
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
| | - Shravan Kumar Mishra
- Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
| | - Vikram Sharanappa
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
| | - Narendra Krishnani
- Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
| | - Niraj Kumari
- Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
| | - Gaurav Agarwal
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, 226014 India
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Park S, Choi J, Song JK, Jang B, Maeng YH. Subcellular expression pattern and clinical significance of CBX2 and CBX7 in breast cancer subtypes. Med Mol Morphol 2024; 57:11-22. [PMID: 37553450 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-023-00368-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Chromobox (CBX)2 and CBX7, members of CBX family protein, show diverse expression patterns and contrasting roles in certain cancers. We aimed to investigate the subcellular expression patterns and clinical significances of CBXs in breast cancer (BC) subtypes, which have heterogeneous clinical course and therapeutic responses. Among the subtypes, the triple-negative BC (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group that lacks specific markers. We categorized TNBC into quadruple-negative BC (QNBC) and TNBC, based on androgen receptor (AR) status, to make the groups more homogeneous. Immunohistochemistry for CBX proteins was performed on 323 primary invasive BC tissues and their clinical significances were analyzed. Cytoplasmic CBX2 (CBX2-c) was linked to adverse clinicopathological factors and TNBC and QNBC subtypes. In contrast, nuclear CBX7 (CBX7-n) was associated with favorable parameters and luminal A subtype. CBX2-c expression increased progressively from that in benign lesions to that in in situ carcinomas and invasive cancers, whereas CBX7-n and AR expressions showed sequential downregulation. AR was lower in metastatic tissues compared to matched primary cancer tissues. We speculate that the upregulation of CBX2-c and downregulation of CBX7-n could play a role in breast oncogenesis and an adverse clinical course, suggesting them as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in invasive BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungjoon Park
- Department of Pathology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, 63241, South Korea
| | - Jaehyuck Choi
- Department of Surgery, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, 63241, South Korea
| | - Jung-Kook Song
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, 63241, South Korea
| | - Bogun Jang
- Department of Pathology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, 63241, South Korea
- Department of Pathology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Aran 13-gil 15, Jeju, 63241, South Korea
| | - Young Hee Maeng
- Department of Pathology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, 63241, South Korea.
- Department of Pathology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Aran 13-gil 15, Jeju, 63241, South Korea.
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Sharifi MN, O'Regan RM, Wisinski KB. Is the Androgen Receptor a Viable Target in Triple Negative Breast Cancer in 5 Years? Clin Breast Cancer 2023; 23:813-824. [PMID: 37419745 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by high rates of disease recurrence after definitive therapy, and median survival of less than 18 months in the metastatic setting. Systemic therapy options for TNBC consist primarily of cytotoxic chemotherapy-containing regimens, and while recently FDA-approved chemo-immunotherapy combinations and antibody-drug conjugates such as Sacituzumab govitecan have improved clinical outcomes, there remains an unmet need for more effective and less toxic therapies. A subset of TNBC expresses the androgen receptor (AR), a nuclear hormone steroid receptor that activates an androgen-responsive transcriptional program, and gene expression profiling has revealed a TNBC molecular subtype with AR expression and luminal and androgen responsive features. Both preclinical and clinical data suggest biologic similarities between luminal AR (LAR) TNBC and ER+ luminal breast cancer, including lower proliferative activity, relative chemoresistance, and high rates of oncogenic activating mutations in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Preclinical LAR-TNBC models are sensitive to androgen signaling inhibitors (ASIs), and particularly given the availability of FDA-approved ASIs with robust efficacy in prostate cancer, there has been great interest in targeting this pathway in AR+ TNBC. Here, we review the underlying biology and completed and ongoing androgen-targeted therapy studies in early stage and metastatic AR+ TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina N Sharifi
- UW Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI.
| | - Ruth M O'Regan
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Kari B Wisinski
- UW Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI
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Jinna N, Yuan YC, Rida P. Kinesin Family Member C1 (KIFC1/HSET) Underlies Aggressive Disease in Androgen Receptor-Low and Basal-Like Triple-Negative Breast Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16072. [PMID: 38003261 PMCID: PMC10671256 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC) lacks traditional actionable targets, including androgen receptor (AR). QNBC disproportionately afflicts and impacts patients of African genetic ancestry. Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1/HSET), a centrosome clustering protein that prevents cancer cells from undergoing centrosome-amplification-induced apoptosis, has been reported to be upregulated in TNBCs and African-American (AA) TNBCs. Herein, we analyzed KIFC1 RNA levels and their associations with clinical features and outcomes among AR-low and AR-high TNBC tumors in three distinct publicly available gene expression datasets and in the breast cancer gene expression database (bc-GenExMiner). KIFC1 levels were significantly higher in AR-low and basal-like TNBCs than in AR-high and non-basal-like TNBCs, irrespective of the stage, grade, tumor size, and lymph node status. KIFC1 levels were also upregulated in AR-low tumors relative to AR-high tumors among Black and premenopausal women with TNBC. High KIFC1 levels conferred significantly shorter overall survival, disease-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival among AR-low and basal-like TNBC patients in Kaplan-Meier analyses. In conclusion, KIFC1 levels may be upregulated in AR-low tumors and, specifically, in those of African descent, wherein it may promote poor outcomes. KIFC1 may be an actionable cancer-cell-specific target for the AR-low TNBC subpopulation and could aid in alleviating racial disparities in TNBC outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Jinna
- Department of Population Science, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yate-Ching Yuan
- Department of Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Padmashree Rida
- Department of Science, Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, USA;
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Jinna ND, Van Alsten S, Rida P, Seewaldt VL, Troester MA. Molecular features of androgen-receptor low, estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers in the Carolina breast cancer study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023:10.1007/s10549-023-07014-x. [PMID: 37438515 PMCID: PMC10361868 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07014-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Androgen receptor (AR) expression is absent in 40-90% of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancers. The prognostic value of AR in ER-negative patients and therapeutic targets for patients absent in AR remains poorly explored. METHODS We used an RNA-based multigene classifier to identify AR-low and AR-high ER-negative participants in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS; N = 669) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; N = 237). We compared AR-defined subgroups by demographics, tumor characteristics, and established molecular signatures [PAM50 risk of recurrence (ROR), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), and immune response]. RESULTS AR-low tumors were more prevalent among younger (RFD = + 10%, 95% CI = 4% to 16%) participants in CBCS and were associated with HER2 negativity (RFD = - 35%, 95% CI = - 44% to - 26%), higher grade (RFD = + 17%, 95% CI = 8% to 26%), and higher risk of recurrence scores (RFD = + 22%, 95% CI = 16.1% to 28%), with similar results in TCGA. The AR-low subgroup was strongly associated with HRD in CBCS (RFD = + 33.3%, 95% CI = 23.8% to 43.2%) and TCGA (RFD = + 41.5%, 95% CI = 34.0% to 48.6%). In CBCS, AR-low tumors had high adaptive immune marker expression. CONCLUSION Multigene, RNA-based low AR expression is associated with aggressive disease characteristics as well as DNA repair defects and immune phenotypes, suggesting plausible precision therapies for AR-low, ER-negative patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita D Jinna
- Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
| | - Sarah Van Alsten
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Padmashree Rida
- Department of Science, Rowland Hall, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102, USA
| | - Victoria L Seewaldt
- Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Melissa A Troester
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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Jinna N, Van Alsten S, Rida P, Seewaldt V, Troester M. Molecular Features of Androgen-Receptor Low, Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancers in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2693555. [PMID: 36993425 PMCID: PMC10055609 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2693555/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Androgen receptor (AR) expression is absent in 40-90% of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancers. The prognostic value of AR in ER-negative patients and therapeutic targets for patients absent in AR remains poorly explored. METHODS We used an RNA-based multigene classifier to identify AR-low and AR-high ER-negative participants in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS; n=669) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n=237). We compared AR-defined subgroups by demographics, tumor characteristics, and established molecular signatures [PAM50 risk of recurrence (ROR), homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), and immune response]. RESULTS AR-low tumors were more prevalent among Black (relative frequency difference (RFD) = +7%, 95% CI = 1% to 14%) and younger (RFD = +10%, 95% CI = 4% to 16%) participants in CBCS and were associated with HER2-negativity (RFD = -35%, 95% CI = -44% to -26%), higher grade (RFD = +17%, 95% CI = 8% to 26%), and higher risk of recurrence scores (RFD = +22%, 95% CI = 16.1% to 28%), with similar results in TCGA. The AR-low subgroup was strongly associated with HRD in CBCS (RFD = +33.3%, 95% CI = 23.8% to 43.2%) and TCGA (RFD = +41.5%, 95% CI = 34.0% to 48.6%). In CBCS, AR-low tumors had high adaptive immune marker expression. CONCLUSION Multigene, RNA-based low AR expression is associated with aggressive disease characteristics as well as DNA repair defects and immune phenotypes, suggesting plausible precision therapies for AR-low, ER-negative patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Melissa Troester
- UNC-Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Racial Disparity in Quadruple Negative Breast Cancer: Aggressive Biology and Potential Therapeutic Targeting and Prevention. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184484. [PMID: 36139643 PMCID: PMC9497140 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC), a subgroup of triple negative BC, has emerged as a highly aggressive BC subtype that disproportionately afflicts and impacts Black/African-American (AA) women. In this article, we review molecular distinctions in Black/AA and White/European-American (EA) QNBC biology as well as address potential non-genetic risk factors that could be underlying this racially disparate burden. We aim to provide deeper insight and provide a framework for novel discovery of actionable therapeutic targets and identify lifestyle changes to improve outcomes for Black/AA QNBC patients. Abstract Black/African-American (AA) women, relative to their White/European-American (EA) counterparts, experience disproportionately high breast cancer mortality. Central to this survival disparity, Black/AA women have an unequal burden of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as triple-negative breast cancer (ER/PR-, HER2-wild type; TNBC). While TNBC has been well characterized, recent studies have identified a highly aggressive androgen receptor (AR)-negative subtype of TNBC, quadruple-negative breast cancer (ER/PR-, HER2-wildtype, AR-; QNBC). Similar to TNBC, QNBC disproportionately impacts Black/AA women and likely plays an important role in the breast cancer survival disparities experienced by Black/AA women. Here, we discuss the racial disparities of QNBC and molecular signaling pathways that may contribute to the aggressive biology of QNBC in Black/AA women. Our immediate goal is to spotlight potential prevention and therapeutic targets for Black/AA QNBC; ultimately our goal is to provide greater insight into reducing the breast cancer survival burden experienced by Black/AA women.
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Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis for the Screening of Hub Genes and Therapeutic Drugs in Androgen Receptor-Positive TNBC. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:4964793. [PMID: 36157217 PMCID: PMC9493148 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4964793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
As the most invasive and lethal subtype of breast cancer (BC), triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) is of increasing interest. However, the androgen receptor (AR) still has an unclear role in TNBC. The current study is aimed at testing the diagnostic and therapeutic performance of novel biomarkers for AR-positive TNBC. The GSE76124 dataset was analyzed by combining WGCNA and other bioinformatics methods. Subsequently, function enrichment analysis was applied to identify the relationships between these differential expression genes (DEGs). Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction network was established, and the hub genes were identified by Cytoscape software. Eventually, the miRNA-hub gene modulate network was developed and the Drug-Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb) was applied to verify the potential drugs for AR-positive TNBC. In the current research, 88 DEGs in total were selected from the intersection of the purple module genes identified by WGCNA and limma package. TFF1, FOXA1, ESR1, AGR2, TFF3, AGR3, GATA3, XBP1, SPDEF, and TOX3 were selected as hub genes by the MCC method, which were all upregulated. The survival analysis suggested that TFF1 was the only one related to significant lower survival rate in TNBC. Ultimately, hsa-miR-520g-3p and hsa-miR-520h were found taking part in the regulation of TFF1, and 2 small molecules were identified as the potential targets for AR-positive TNBC treatment. As a result, our study suggested that hsa-miR-520g-3p, hsa-miR-520h, and TFF1 might have significant potential values for AR-positive TNBC diagnosis and prognosis prediction. TFF1, hsa-miR-520g-3, and hsa-miR-520h may serve as the novel therapeutic targets, and our findings offer further insights into the therapy of AR-positive TNBC.
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Zambelli A, Sgarra R, De Sanctis R, Agostinetto E, Santoro A, Manfioletti G. Heterogeneity of triple-negative breast cancer: understanding the Daedalian labyrinth and how it could reveal new drug targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:557-573. [PMID: 35638300 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2084380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with the least favorable outcomes. However, recent research efforts have generated an enhanced knowledge of the biology of the disease and have provided a new, more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted ecosystem that underpins TNBC. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors illustrate the principal biological characteristics of TNBC, the molecular driver alterations, targetable genes, and the biomarkers of immune engagement that have been identified across the subgroups of TNBC. Accordingly, the authors summarize the landscape of the innovative and investigative biomarker-driven therapeutic options in TNBC that emerge from the unique biological basis of the disease. EXPERT OPINION The therapeutic setting of TNBC is rapidly evolving. An enriched understanding of the tumor spatial and temporal heterogeneity and the surrounding microenvironment of this complex disease can effectively support the development of novel and tailored opportunities of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zambelli
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS - Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Humanitas Cancer Center, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sgarra
- Department of Life sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Rita De Sanctis
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS - Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Humanitas Cancer Center, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Agostinetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institut Jules Bordet and l'Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B), Brussels, Belgium and Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS - Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Humanitas Cancer Center, Milan, Italy
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Clinical-pathologic characteristics and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative low Ki-67 proliferation (TNLP) breast cancers. NPJ Breast Cancer 2022; 8:51. [PMID: 35444182 PMCID: PMC9021249 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-022-00415-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) often have a high Ki-67 proliferation index and respond favorably to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with pathologic complete response (pCR) resulting in ~40% of cases. Nevertheless, morbidity/mortality remain high, mostly due to recurrence in patients with residual disease. In contrast, the incidence and clinical features of TNBC with low proliferation (TNLP), defined as TNBC with a Ki-67 index of ≤30% remains unknown. We report 70 cases of TNLP identified at our center from 2008 to 2018, including 18 treated with NACT. TNLP tumors represent <1% of all breast cancers, and ~5-10% of TNBCs. Ninety percent of carcinomas were grade I/II and 70% were either pure apocrine or showed apocrine differentiation. Fifty cases had available immunohistochemistry results; 80%, 84%, 22%, and 20% were positive for AR, INPP4B, nestin, and SOX10, respectively. With a median follow-up of 72 months, 14% experienced recurrence, and 11% died of breast cancer. The tumor stage was prognostic. Among 39 stage-I patients, 18 (46%) received chemotherapy, but this did not impact survival. There was a trend for improved recurrence-free survival with chemotherapy in stage-II patients. Of the 18 patients treated with NACT, 2 (11%) showed pCR; these were notable for either high stromal TILs or a high mitotic count despite a low Ki-67 index. TNLPs are enriched in low to intermediate-grade carcinomas with apocrine features. Due to overall good prognosis of stage-I TNLP and the lack of clear benefit of chemotherapy, de-escalation of chemotherapy may be considered in select patients with stage-I TNLP.
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Naimi A, Zare N, Amjadi E, Soltan M. High claudin-4 antigen expression in triple-negative breast cancer by the immunohistochemistry method. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 27:20. [PMID: 35419062 PMCID: PMC8995311 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_1389_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Ravaioli S, Maltoni R, Pasculli B, Parrella P, Giudetti AM, Vergara D, Tumedei MM, Pirini F, Bravaccini S. Androgen receptor in breast cancer: The "5W" questions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:977331. [PMID: 36111296 PMCID: PMC9468319 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.977331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in 60-70% of breast cancers (BCs) and the availability of anti-AR compounds, currently used for treating prostate cancer, paves the way to tackle specifically AR-positive BC patients. The prognostic and predictive role of AR in BC is a matter of debate, since the results from clinical trials are not striking, probably due to both technical and biological reasons. In this review, we aimed to highlight WHAT is AR, describing its structure and functions, WHAT to test and HOW to detect AR, WHERE AR should be tested (on primary tumor or metastasis) and WHY studying this fascinating hormone receptor, exploring and debating on its prognostic and predictive role. We considered AR and its ratio with other hormone receptors, analyzing also studies including patients with ductal carcinoma in situ and with early and advanced BC, as well. We also emphasized the effects that both other hormone receptors and the newly emerging androgen-inducible non coding RNAs may have on AR function in BC pathology and the putative implementation in the clinical setting. Moreover, we pointed out the latest results by clinical trials and we speculated about the use of anti-AR therapies in BC clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ravaioli
- IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
- *Correspondence: Sara Ravaioli,
| | - Roberta Maltoni
- IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Barbara Pasculli
- Laboratorio di Oncologia, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Paola Parrella
- Laboratorio di Oncologia, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Giudetti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Daniele Vergara
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Pirini
- IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Sara Bravaccini
- IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
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14
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Differential Regulation of Lacto-/Neolacto- Glycosphingolipid Biosynthesis Pathway Reveals Transcription Factors as Potential Candidates in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133330. [PMID: 34283051 PMCID: PMC8268693 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer with limited treatment options. Glycosylation has been implicated in cancer development, but TNBC-specific glycosylation pathways have not been examined. Here, we applied bioinformatic analyses on public datasets to discover TNBC-specific glycogenes and pathways, as well as their upstream regulatory mechanisms. Unsupervised clustering of 345 glycogene expressions in breast cancer datasets revealed a relative homogenous expression pattern in basal-like TNBC subtype. Differential expression analyses of the 345 glycogenes between basal-like TNBC (hereafter termed TNBC) and other BC subtypes, or normal controls, revealed 84 differential glycogenes in TNBC. Pathway enrichment showed two common TNBC-enriched pathways across all three datasets, cell cycle and lacto-/neolacto- glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis, while a total of four glycosylation-related pathways were significantly enriched in TNBC. We applied a selection criterion of the top 50% differential anabolic/catabolic glycogenes in the enriched pathways to define 34 TNBC-specific glycogenes. The lacto-/neolacto- GSL biosynthesis pathway was the most highly enriched, with seven glycogenes all up-regulated in TNBC. This data led us to investigate the hypothesis that a common upstream mechanism in TNBC up-regulates the lacto-/neolacto-GSL biosynthesis pathway. Using public multi-omic datasets, we excluded the involvement of copy-number alteration and DNA methylation, but identified three transcription factors (AR, GATA3 and ZNG622) that each target three candidate genes in the lacto-/neolacto- GSL biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, a subset of TNBC has been reported to express AR and GATA3, and AR antagonists are being trialed for TNBC. Our findings suggest that AR and GATA3 may contribute to TNBC via GSL regulation, and provide a list of candidate glycogenes for further investigation.
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15
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Hu Y, Gao J, Wang M, Li M. Potential Prospect of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:5223-5237. [PMID: 34234565 PMCID: PMC8257068 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s310649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, difficult-to-treat subtype of cancer with a poor prognosis; there is an urgent need for effective, targeted molecular therapies. The cyclin D/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6–retinoblastoma protein (Rb) pathway plays a critical role in regulating cell cycle checkpoints, a process which is often disrupted in cancer cells. Selective CDK4/6 inhibitors can prevent retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation by invoking cell cycle arrest in the first growth phase (G1), and may therefore represent an effective treatment option. In this article, we review the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with other targeted therapies for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Three selective CDK4/6 inhibitors have so far received the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) breast cancer. Trilaciclib, a small molecule short-acting inhibitor of CDK4/6, has also been approved recently for people with small cell lung cancer, and is also expected to be clinically effective against breast cancer. Although the efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with triple-negative breast cancer remains uncertain, their use in conjunction with other targeted therapies may improve outcomes and is therefore currently being explored. Identifying biomarkers for response or resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment may optimize the personalization of treatment strategies for this disease. Ongoing and future clinical trials and biomarker studies will shed further light on these topics, and help to realize the full potential of CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment in triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Hu
- Department of Oncology & Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiyue Gao
- Department of Oncology & Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiling Wang
- Department of Oncology & Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, People's Republic of China
| | - Man Li
- Department of Oncology & Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, People's Republic of China
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16
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Brumec M, Sobočan M, Takač I, Arko D. Clinical Implications of Androgen-Positive Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1642. [PMID: 33915941 PMCID: PMC8037213 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the recent findings of a vast array of studies conducted on androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancer (AR-positive TNBC) to provide a better understanding of this specific breast cancer subgroup. AR expression is correlated with higher age, lower histological grade, lower proliferation index Ki-67, spiculated masses, and calcifications on mammography. Studies investigating the correlation between AR expression and lymph node metastasis are highly discordant. In addition, results regarding prognosis are highly contradictory. AR antagonists are a promising novel therapeutic approach in AR-positive TNBC. However, AR signaling pathways should be more investigated in order to understand the influence of AR expression on TNBC more thoroughly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maša Brumec
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (D.A.)
| | - Monika Sobočan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (D.A.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Divison of Gynecology and Perinatology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Iztok Takač
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (D.A.)
- Divison of Gynecology and Perinatology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Darja Arko
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.T.); (D.A.)
- Divison of Gynecology and Perinatology, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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17
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Wu HT, Lin J, Liu YE, Chen HF, Hsu KW, Lin SH, Peng KY, Lin KJ, Hsieh CC, Chen DR. Luteolin suppresses androgen receptor-positive triple-negative breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by epigenetic regulation of MMP9 expression via the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 81:153437. [PMID: 33352494 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents up to 20% of all breast cancers. This cancer lacks the expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The current therapeutic strategy for patients with this subtype is the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery. Luteolin is a natural herbal flavonoid and a potential therapeutic candidate for multiple diseases. The use of a treatment that combines Chinese herbal medicine and western medicine is rising in Asia. PURPOSE The present study evaluates the effects and molecular mechanisms involved with luteolin treatment and evaluates whether this herb affects androgen receptor-positive breast cancer cell proliferation or metastasis. STUDY DESIGN In vitro evaluation of the effect of luteolin on androgen receptor-positive TNBC cell proliferation and metastasis METHODS: Cell viability analysis was used for the cytotoxicity test. Colony formation and Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) staining-based proliferation experiments were used for cell proliferation. Wound healing and transwell assays were used for in vitro migration/invasion. The RT-qPCR analysis was used for gene expression. Furthermore, ChIP-qPCR analysis was used for epigenetic modification of gene promoters. RESULTS Luteolin significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of androgen receptor-positive TNBC. Furthermore, luteolin inactivated the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The combination of luteolin and inhibitors of AKT/mTOR synergistically repressed an androgen receptor-positive TNBC cell proliferation and metastasis. Luteolin also downregulated MMP9 expression by decreasing the levels of the AKT/mTOR promoting H3K27Ac and H3K56A on the MMP9 promoter region. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that luteolin inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of androgen receptor-positive TNBC by regulating MMP9 expression through a reduction in the levels of AKT/mTOR-inducing H3K27Ac and H3K56Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Tsang Wu
- Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
| | - Joseph Lin
- Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan; Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan
| | - Yi-En Liu
- Cancer Research Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Fan Chen
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Wen Hsu
- Research Center for Tumor Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Kuo-Juei Lin
- Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chi Hsieh
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan.
| | - Dar-Ren Chen
- Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan; Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan; Cancer Research Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.
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18
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Bhattarai S, Saini G, Gogineni K, Aneja R. Quadruple-negative breast cancer: novel implications for a new disease. Breast Cancer Res 2020; 22:127. [PMID: 33213491 PMCID: PMC7678108 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01369-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the androgen receptor (AR) expression, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be subdivided into AR-positive TNBC and AR-negative TNBC, also known as quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC). QNBC characterization and treatment is fraught with many challenges. In QNBC, there is a greater paucity of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets than AR-positive TNBC. Although the prognostic role of AR in TNBC remains controversial, many studies revealed that a lack of AR expression confers a more aggressive disease course. Literature characterizing QNBC tumor biology and uncovering novel biomarkers for improved management of the disease remains scarce. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the current QNBC landscape and propose avenues for future research, suggesting potential biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that warrant investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shristi Bhattarai
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Geetanjali Saini
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Keerthi Gogineni
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ritu Aneja
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, 100 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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19
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Losurdo A, De Sanctis R, Fernandes B, Torrisi R, Masci G, Agostinetto E, Gatzemeier W, Errico V, Testori A, Tinterri C, Roncalli M, Santoro A. Insights for the application of TILs and AR in the treatment of TNBC in routine clinical practice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20100. [PMID: 33208857 PMCID: PMC7674426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77043-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), usually presenting with a very aggressive phenotype, is a heterogeneous entity. We aim to discuss new biomarkers, suitable for prognostic and predictive purposes. We retrospectively collected clinical variables and immunohistochemical characteristics of early TNBCs, specifically focusing on the prognostic and predictive significance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and androgen receptor (AR) expression, assessing their correlation with clinical variables. Among 159 patients, TILs were significantly higher in younger patients and with lower BMI, and in tumors with higher ki-67 and greater nodal involvement; conversely, AR was significantly higher in older patients and in tumors with lower ki-67. Interestingly and in line with literature, both TILs level and ARs expression were lower within metastatic sites, in patients who developed distant metastases, compared to those found in the primary site. Small (pT1) and node negative tumors were highly represented and no correlation of either TILs or AR with prognosis could be observed. Our findings support the use of stromal TILs to identify a more aggressive, but chemo-sensitive phenotype, mostly represented in younger women, while AR may identify a less aggressive, slow-growing luminal TNBC subtype, more common among older patients. TILs and AR are worth implementing in routine clinical practice to refine prognosis even if, in our case series, we couldn't identify a significant correlation of the two variables with either disease-free and overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Losurdo
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Rita De Sanctis
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Bethania Fernandes
- Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosalba Torrisi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Masci
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Agostinetto
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Gatzemeier
- Department of Breast Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Errico
- Department of Breast Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Testori
- Department of Breast Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Corrado Tinterri
- Department of Breast Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Roncalli
- Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
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20
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Michmerhuizen AR, Spratt DE, Pierce LJ, Speers CW. ARe we there yet? Understanding androgen receptor signaling in breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2020; 6:47. [PMID: 33062889 PMCID: PMC7519666 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-020-00190-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of androgen receptor (AR) activation and expression is well understood in prostate cancer. In breast cancer, expression and activation of AR is increasingly recognized for its role in cancer development and its importance in promoting cell growth in the presence or absence of estrogen. As both prostate and breast cancers often share a reliance on nuclear hormone signaling, there is increasing appreciation of the overlap between activated cellular pathways in these cancers in response to androgen signaling. Targeting of the androgen receptor as a monotherapy or in combination with other conventional therapies has proven to be an effective clinical strategy for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer, and these therapeutic strategies are increasingly being investigated in breast cancer. This overlap suggests that targeting androgens and AR signaling in other cancer types may also be effective. This manuscript will review the role of AR in various cellular processes that promote tumorigenesis and metastasis, first in prostate cancer and then in breast cancer, as well as discuss ongoing efforts to target AR for the more effective treatment and prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Michmerhuizen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Daniel E Spratt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Lori J Pierce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Corey W Speers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
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21
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Govindan S, Siraganahalli Eswaraiah M, Basavaraj C, Adinarayan M, Sankaran S, Bakre M. Androgen Receptor mRNA levels determine the prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer patients. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:745. [PMID: 32778063 PMCID: PMC7419184 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07218-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-Androgen Receptor (AR) therapy holds promise for a subset of AR expressing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, current AR assays are suboptimal in detecting the dynamic range of AR expression, contributing to its controversial role in TNBC disease prognosis. This study is aimed at evaluating the feasibility of qRT-PCR to sensitively and robustly detect AR mRNA levels for prognostication. METHODS mRNA expression profiling was performed on FFPE blocks from a retrospective cohort of 101 TNBC patients using qRT-PCR and compared with AR protein expression by immunohistochemistry . Statistical analyses included Spearman's rank correlation, Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Distant Metastasis Free Survival was used as the end point in survival analysis. RESULTS AR mRNA expression was observed in 34/101 patients (34%) whereas 12/80 cases (15%) were positive by IHC. qRT-PCR could thus detect more AR positive patients as compared to IHC, with 75% (9/12) concordance between the two methods. Co-expression of GATA3 and FOXA1 mRNA was observed in 85 and 88% of AR mRNA positive tumors, respectively. AR mRNA positivity was significantly correlated with age at disease onset (p = 0.02), high FOXA1/GATA3 (p < 0.05) and distant recurrence. AR mRNA positive patients had poorer DMFS (43%; p = 0.002). DMFS dropped further to 26% (p = 0.006) in AR (+)/high FOXA1/GATA3 patients. AR mRNA expression together with node positivity had the worst DMFS (23%; p < 0.0001) compared to patients who were either positive for any one of these, or negative for both AR and node status. Low Ki67 mRNA with AR mRNA positivity also had poorer DMFS (39%; p = 0.001) compared to patients expressing low Ki67 with no AR mRNA expression. CONCLUSION qRT-PCR was more sensitive and reliable in detecting the dynamic expression levels of AR compared to IHC and this variation could be explained by the higher sensitivity of the former method. High AR mRNA expression was strongly associated with expression of AR protein, high FOXA1/GATA3 mRNA, and with poor prognosis. qRT-PCR was more efficient in detecting the AR positive cases compared to IHC. A distinct signature involving high GATA3/FOXA1, low Ki67, and node positivity in AR mRNA positive tumors correlated with poor prognosis. Thus, AR mRNA screening can serve as an effective prognostic marker along with offering potential targeted therapy options for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu Govindan
- OncoStem Diagnostics Private Limited, # 4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Aanand Tower, 2nd Floor, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560027, India
| | | | - Chetana Basavaraj
- OncoStem Diagnostics Private Limited, # 4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Aanand Tower, 2nd Floor, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560027, India
| | - Manjula Adinarayan
- OncoStem Diagnostics Private Limited, # 4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Aanand Tower, 2nd Floor, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560027, India
| | - Satish Sankaran
- OncoStem Diagnostics Private Limited, # 4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Aanand Tower, 2nd Floor, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560027, India
| | - Manjiri Bakre
- OncoStem Diagnostics Private Limited, # 4, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, Aanand Tower, 2nd Floor, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560027, India.
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22
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Riaz N, Idress R, Habib S, Lalani EN. Lack of Androgen Receptor Expression Selects for Basal-Like Phenotype and Is a Predictor of Poor Clinical Outcome in Non-Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1083. [PMID: 32850312 PMCID: PMC7399239 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01083] [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: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Androgen receptor (AR) has emerged as a significant favorable prognostic indicator in estrogen receptor expressing (ER+) breast cancer (BCa); however, its clinical and biological relevance in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and association with cancer stem cell (CSC) markers remain ambiguous. Methods: We examined the immunohistochemical expression of AR in a cohort of stage I-III TNBC cases (n = 197) with a long-term clinical follow-up data (mean follow-up = 53.6 months). Significance of AR expression was correlated with prognostic biomarkers including cancer stem cell markers (CD44, CD24, and ALDH1), basal markers (CK5, CK14, and nestin), proliferation marker (ki-67), apoptotic marker (Bcl-2), and COX-2. Expression of CK5 and nestin was used for the categorization of TNBC into basal (TN, CK5+, and/or nestin+) and non-basal (TN, CK5-, and/or nestin-) phenotypes, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for estimation of overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). Results: AR expression was observed in 18.8% of non-metastatic TNBC tumors. Expression of AR correlated with lower grade (P < 0.001) and conferred a favorable prognostic significance in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis (P = 0.005). Lack of AR expression correlated with expression of CSC phenotype (CD44+/CD24-) (P < 0.001), COX-2 (P = 0.02), basal markers (CK5: P = 0.03), and nestin (P = 0.01). Basal-like phenotype (TN, CK5+, and/or nestin+) correlated with quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC) and showed a significant association with adverse prognostic markers including high proliferation index (P < 0.001), expression of COX-2 (P = 0.009), and CSC phenotype (CD44+/CD24-: P = 0.01). Expression of AR remained an independent prognostic indicator for improved overall survival (P = 0.003), whereas basal-like phenotype was associated with an adverse BCSS (P = 0.013). Conclusions: Assessment of AR and basal markers identified biologically and clinically distinct subgroups of TNBC. Expression of AR defined a low-risk TNBC subgroup associated with improved overall survival, whereas expression of basal markers (CK5 and nestin) identified a high-risk subgroup associated with adverse BCSS. Integration of immunohistochemical analysis of AR and basal biomarkers to the assessment of TNBC tumors is expected to improve the prognostication of an otherwise heterogeneous disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazia Riaz
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.,Section of Breast Diseases, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Romana Idress
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Habib
- Section of Breast Diseases, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - El-Nasir Lalani
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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23
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Taniguchi K, Takada S, Omori M, Igawa T, Nishimura MF, Morito T, Ichimura K, Yoshino T. Triple-negative pleomorphic lobular carcinoma and expression of androgen receptor: Personal case series and review of the literature. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235790. [PMID: 32697770 PMCID: PMC7375581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma (PLC) is a histological variant of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and is associated with worse prognosis than classical ILC. It exhibits a greater degree of cellular atypia and pleomorphism and is occasionally accompanied with apocrine morphology. We investigated the immunohistochemical characteristics of samples from 31 Japanese patients with PLC to elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics of PLC including androgen receptor (AR) immunoreactivity. The surrogate molecular subtypes were luminal A-like, luminal B-like, luminal B-like/HER2, HER2-type, and triple-negative in 5, 4, 3, 5, and 14 cases, respectively. AR was positive in 92.8% (13/14) of the triple-negative PLC cases and 100% (10/10) of the non-triple-negative PLC cases. Disease-specific survival was worse in patients with histological grade 3 PLCs than in those with histological grade 2 PLCs (p = 0.007). However, there was no significant difference in the progression-free survival between the two groups (p = 0.152). No other clinicopathological characteristics were associated with prognosis. These results reveal that PLC exhibits various surrogate molecular subtypes and that the triple-negative subtype frequently expresses AR. The observed molecular apocrine differentiation implicates that triple-negative PLC can be categorized into the luminal AR subtype. Furthermore, AR-targeted therapy might be useful for patients with triple-negative PLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Taniguchi
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Shinichi Takada
- Department of Pathology, Yuai Memorial Hospital, Koga, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masako Omori
- Department of Pathology, Kurashiki Medical Center, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Takuro Igawa
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Midori Filiz Nishimura
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Morito
- Department of Pathology, National Hospital Organization Iwakuni Clinical Center, Iwakuni, Japan
| | - Kouichi Ichimura
- Department of Pathology, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tadashi Yoshino
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
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Hadgu E, Seifu D, Tigneh W, Bokretsion Y, Bekele A, Abebe M, Sollie T, Karlsson C, Karlsson MG. Distribution and characteristics of androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross sectional study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232519. [PMID: 32374753 PMCID: PMC7202607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of the role of androgen receptor (AR) in the biology of breast cancer is an emerging area of research. There are compelling evidences that AR expression may be used to further refine breast cancer molecular subtyping with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Many studies indicated co-expression of AR with the hormonal receptors in breast cancer has a favorable prognosis. AR is also investigated by many researchers as a potential therapeutic target in treatment of breast cancer. Studies on the frequency and distribution of AR in breast cancer among Africans is barely available. Given the heightened interest to understand its role in breast cancer, we determined AR expression and assessed its association with clinicopathological parameters among Ethiopian women. In this study, 112 newly diagnosed patient with invasive breast cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital were enrolled. Immunohistochemical assessment of AR, ER, PR, Ki67 and HER2 were performed using tissue microarrays (TMA) constructed from their primary tumor block. Out of the 112 participants, 91 (81%) were positive for AR expression and the remaining 21 participants (19%) were negative for AR expression. Expression of AR in ER+, HER2+ and TNBC cases were 93%, 83% and 48% respectively. Our study reveals AR is expressed in a significant number of breast cancers patients and this may indicate that breast cancers cases in Ethiopia have favorable prognosis and could benefit from progresses in AR targeted treatments. Since AR expression has important consequences on the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer, further studies with an increased number of participants is necessary to confirm our reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endale Hadgu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
| | - Daniel Seifu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondemagegnhu Tigneh
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yonas Bokretsion
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abebe Bekele
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Markos Abebe
- Armauer Hansen research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Thomas Sollie
- School of Medical Sciences, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden
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Lehmann BD, Abramson VG, Sanders ME, Mayer EL, Haddad TC, Nanda R, Van Poznak C, Storniolo AM, Nangia J, Gonzalez-Ericsson PI, Sanchez V, Johnson KN, Abramson RG, Chen SC, Shyr Y, Arteaga CL, Wolff AC, Pietenpol JA. TBCRC 032 IB/II Multicenter Study: Molecular Insights to AR Antagonist and PI3K Inhibitor Efficacy in Patients with AR + Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2111-2123. [PMID: 31822498 PMCID: PMC7196503 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Preclinical data demonstrating androgen receptor (AR)-positive (AR+) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are sensitive to AR antagonists, and PI3K inhibition catalyzed an investigator-initiated, multi-institutional phase Ib/II study TBCRC032. The trial investigated the safety and efficacy of the AR-antagonist enzalutamide alone or in combination with the PI3K inhibitor taselisib in patients with metastatic AR+ (≥10%) breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Phase Ib patients [estrogen receptor positive (ER+) or TNBC] with AR+ breast cancer received 160 mg enzalutamide in combination with taselisib to determine dose-limiting toxicities and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Phase II TNBC patients were randomized to receive either enzalutamide alone or in combination with 4 mg taselisib until disease progression. Primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (CBR) at 16 weeks. RESULTS The combination was tolerated, and the MTD was not reached. The adverse events were hyperglycemia and skin rash. Overall, CBR for evaluable patients receiving the combination was 35.7%, and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months. Luminal AR (LAR) TNBC subtype patients trended toward better response compared with non-LAR (75.0% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.06), and increased PFS (4.6 vs. 2.0 months, P = 0.082). Genomic analyses revealed subtype-specific treatment response, and novel FGFR2 fusions and AR splice variants. CONCLUSIONS The combination of enzalutamide and taselisib increased CBR in TNBC patients with AR+ tumors. Correlative analyses suggest AR protein expression alone is insufficient for identifying patients with AR-dependent tumors and knowledge of tumor LAR subtype and AR splice variants may identify patients more or less likely to benefit from AR antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Lehmann
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Vandana G. Abramson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Melinda E. Sanders
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, USA
- Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN, USA
| | | | | | - Rita Nanda
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | | | | | - Paula I. Gonzalez-Ericsson
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, USA
- Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN, USA
| | - Violeta Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kimberly N. Johnson
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Richard G. Abramson
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sheau-Chiann Chen
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yu Shyr
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Carlos L. Arteaga
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Antonio C. Wolff
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jennifer A. Pietenpol
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Mohammed AA, Elsayed FM, Algazar M, Rashed HE, Anter AH. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Correlation between Androgen Receptor Expression and Pathological Response. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2020; 21:563-568. [PMID: 32102539 PMCID: PMC7332128 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.2.563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing evidence that the response to chemotherapy may be affected by Androgen Receptor (AR) expression suggesting that triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) AR+ and quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC) subtypes may have different diseases behavior. Methodology: We retrospectively estimated the predictive value of the AR expression in stage II and stage III TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and correlated with the rate of pathological response (pCR). Results: Of 89 TNBC patients, 29 patients (32.6%) were TNBC AR+ and 60 patients (67.4) were QNBC. Most of the patients were less than 60 years old. Of note, approximately 62% in the QNBC group were less than 40 years old compared with 39 % in the TNBC AR+ group. The Ki-67 expression was higher in the QNBC in comparison with TNBC AR+ being 86.7% and 65.5%, respectively. QNBC subgroup showed higher rates of pCR compared with TNBC; 60% and 24%, respectively. Higher Ki-67 expression, higher grade, and lymph node involvement were statistically significantly correlated with the rate of pCR in the QNBC group (p=0.02, p=0.04, and p=0.03, respectively). In contrast, no significant association was observed between pCR and clinical-pathological features in the TNBC AR+ group. Conclusion: Our results suggested that the AR expression in TNBC may be applied as a predictive marker for NAC. TNBC AR+ had a lower rate of pCR compared with QNBC, suggesting that this subtype may have a partial chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrallah A Mohammed
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.,Oncology Center, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fifi Mostafa Elsayed
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Algazar
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Hayam E Rashed
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Abeer Hussien Anter
- Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Mansoura University Egypt
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Liu D. AR pathway activity correlates with AR expression in a HER2-dependent manner and serves as a better prognostic factor in breast cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2020; 43:321-333. [PMID: 31933152 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00492-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen receptor (AR) antagonists are currently tested in multiple clinical trials for different breast cancer (BC) subtypes, which emphasizes the need for clarifying the role of AR in this type of cancer. Previous studies showed that AR expression was associated with a favorable prognosis in ER-positive BC. However, the true biological effect of AR signaling in BC is not clear. METHODS An AR pathway signature was generated to compute AR pathway activity in BCs (n = 6439) from 46 microarray datasets. Associations of AR pathway activity and AR expression with BC prognosis were compared by survival analysis. RESULTS AR pathway activity showed moderate positive and negative correlations with AR expression in HER2-positive and HER2-negative BCs, respectively. AR pathway activity increased while AR expression decreased in ER-negative BCs. Like ER and progesterone receptor (PR) expression, AR expression was also negatively associated with tumor grade, neoadjuvant response, and recurrence risk in BC. By contrast, AR pathway activity was positively, and more significantly, associated with these clinical features. Moreover, the AR pathway, but not AR expression, was significantly associated with recurrence risk in BC patients treated with endocrine therapy. These data suggest that, although AR expression probably reflects well-differentiated states of BC and is thus associated with favorable prognosis in BC, the biological effects of AR signaling confers worse outcomes in BC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings encourage the continued evaluation of AR antagonists for BC treatment and support that AR pathway activity serves as a better prognostic factor than AR expression in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxie Liu
- Bluewater Biotech LLC, PO Box 1010, New Providence, NJ, 07974, USA. .,Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
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Kubouchi K, Shimada K, Yokoe T, Tsutsumi Y. Avoidance and Period-Shortening of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Stages I and II: Importance of Ki-67 Labeling Index and the Recognition of Apocrine-Type Lesions. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020; 19:1533033820943246. [PMID: 32677589 PMCID: PMC7370551 DOI: 10.1177/1533033820943246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer encompasses heterogeneous subtypes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is ineffective against some triple-negative breast cancers, while others show a favorable prognosis despite chemoresistance. METHODS A total of 51 cases with stages I and II triple-negative breast cancer were analyzed; 34 triple-negative breast cancers treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were divided into "good responders" (n = 22), showing therapeutic effect G2b or G3 in surgical specimens, and "poor responders" with therapeutic effect G0, G1a, G1b, and G2a (n = 12). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was spared in 17 cases (non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group). Apocrine-type triple-negative breast cancer was defined as triple-negative breast cancer immunoreactive for both androgen receptor and forkhead-box protein A1. Triple-negative breast cancer other than apocrine-type (n = 16) and special types (myoepithelial, medullary, adenoid cystic, and spindle cell carcinomas, n = 6) was categorized as basal-like subtype (n = 29). Prognosis was evaluated in each category. RESULTS Neoadjuvant chemotherapy provoked significant effects against basal-like triple-negative breast cancer with high Ki-67 labeling (≧50%), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predicted high chemosensitivity. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was avoidable in triple-negative breast cancer of apocrine- and special types showing low (<50%) Ki-67 labeling. Ten (59%) lesions in the non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group belonged to the apocrine-type. When clinical complete remission shown by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was reached in the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy against basal-like triple-negative breast cancer, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy period was shortened in 14 (64%) of 22 good responders. Disease-free and overall survival rates were excellent in all groups. CONCLUSIONS The following 2 hypothetical proposals should be proven by large-scale clinical trials. Immunohistochemical recognition of apocrine-type triple-negative breast cancer with low Ki-67 labeling is important for avoiding ineffective/unnecessary neoadjuvant chemotherapy. By employing appropriate clinical imaging, period-shortening is achievable in basal-like triple-negative breast cancer with high Ki-67 labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyosuke Shimada
- Department of Breast Surgery, Kawasaki Municipal Ida Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takamichi Yokoe
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yutaka Tsutsumi
- Diagnostic Pathology Clinic, Pathos Tsutsumi, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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da Silva JL, Cardoso Nunes NC, Izetti P, de Mesquita GG, de Melo AC. Triple negative breast cancer: A thorough review of biomarkers. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 145:102855. [PMID: 31927455 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.102855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined as a type of breast cancer with lack of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 protein. The tumorigenesis is not likely to be driven by hormonal or HER2 pathway. In comparison to other types of breast cancer, TNBC stands out for its aggressive behavior, more prone to early recurrence. Historically, TNBC has been considered a disease with poor response to molecular target therapy, requiring better validation of biomarkers. Recent issues related to tumor heterogeneity have been widely discussed suggesting the subdivision of TNBC into different molecular subtypes. Through a complete research on the main published trials databases and platforms of ongoing clinical studies, the current manuscript was carried out in order to present a critical view of the role of immunohistochemical and molecular biomarkers for the prognosis and response prediction of TNBC to traditional therapy and new molecular target agents.
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30
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Imaging features of triple-negative breast cancers according to androgen receptor status. Eur J Radiol 2019; 114:167-174. [PMID: 31005169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2019.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Different molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have previously been identified through analysis of gene expression profiles. The luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype has been shown to have a lower rate of pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than other TNBC subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine if the imaging features of TNBCs differ by AR (androgen receptor) status, which is a surrogate immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for the chemoresistant LAR subtype of TNBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS This sub-study was part of a clinical trial in patients with stage I-III TNBC who were prospectively monitored for response while receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) at a single comprehensive cancer center. This interim imaging analysis included 144 patients with known AR status measured by IHC. AR-positive (AR+) tumors were defined as those in which at least 10% of tumor cells had positive nuclear AR staining. Two experienced, fellowship-trained breast radiologists who were blinded to the IHC results retrospectively reviewed and reached consensus on all imaging studies for the index lesion (i.e., mammogram, ultrasound, and breast magnetic resonance imaging). The index lesion for each patient was reviewed and described according to the fifth edition of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify imaging features predictive of AR status. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Univariate logistic regression models for AR status showed that AR+ TNBC was significantly associated with heterogeneously dense breast composition on mammography (p = 0.02), mass with calcifications (p = 0.05), irregular mass shape on mammography (p = 0.03), and irregular mass shape on sonography (p = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression models for AR status showed that AR+ TNBC was significantly associated with heterogeneously dense breast composition on mammography (p = 0.01), high mass density on mammography (p = 0.003), and irregular mass shape on sonography (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION The imaging features of TNBCs differ by AR status. Multimodality breast imaging may help identify the LAR subtype of TNBC, which has been shown to be a subtype that is relatively resistant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
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Quadruple Negative Breast Cancers (QNBC) Demonstrate Subtype Consistency among Primary and Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer. Transl Oncol 2018; 12:493-501. [PMID: 30594038 PMCID: PMC6307536 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the availability of current standards of care treatments for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), many patients still die from this disease. Quadruple negative tumors, which are TNBC tumors that lack androgen receptor (AR), represent a more aggressive subtype of TNBC; however, the molecular features are not well understood. METHODS Immunohistochemistry of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2, and AR was determined in 244 primary and 630 recurrent/metastatic site biopsies. Expression was correlated with a panel of 25 cancer-related genes and proteins by IHC and in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS We observed that 80.2% (65 of 81) of primary TNBC tumors and 75.7% (159 of 210) of recurrent/metastatic TNBC tumors are QNBC. Bivariate fit analysis demonstrated that QNBC (n = 224) significantly (P < .03) correlated with younger aged patients at initial biopsy compared to AR positive TNBC patients (n = 51). In paired primary tissue samples and primary to recurrent/metastatic samples, at least 70% Luminal, HER2 enriched, and QNBC subtype did not change molecular profile. But, TNBC seems to be the "unstable" subtype. Within the total cohort, discordance in molecular profiles was identified in both synchronous (20%) and asynchronous (21%) intra-individual analyses. Irrespective of sample type, (Synchronous or Asynchronous), QNBC demonstrated higher concordant than TNBC. IHC and ISH results of the cancer related genes, demonstrated that gene/protein expression differ by molecular profile: TNBC (HR-/HER2-, AR+) and QNBC (HR-/HER2-, AR-). IHC in metastatic tumors, showed that the percentage of tumors positive of EGFR were higher, while PTEN and TLE3 were lower in QNBC compared to TNBC. CONCLUSION Standard treatment of Breast Cancer (BC) relies on reliable assessment by IHC analysis of ER, PR, and HER2. Our analyses suggest that the heterogeneity of TNBC is at least partially associated with the presence or absence of AR expression, suggesting that QNBC should be considered as a clinically relevant BC subtype. IHC analysis of AR appears to be a practical assay to determine the most aggressive TNBC subtypes and identifies tumors that could benefit from available targeted therapies.
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Effect of AR antagonist combined with PARP1 inhibitor on sporadic triple-negative breast cancer bearing AR expression and methylation-mediated BRCA1 dysfunction. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 111:169-177. [PMID: 30580238 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients usually present worse clinical outcomes due to their high heterogeneity. The purpose of our study is to investigate the prognostic role of AR and BRCA1 expression in sporadic TNBC patients, and effect of AR blockade and PARP1 inhibitor for TNBC patients who characterized by positive-AR expression and BRCA1 inactivation or dysfunction. In our present study, we found that AR is expressed in 43.6% and 34.0% of TNBC tissues, when 1% or 10% staining was used as the threshold for AR positivity, respectively. When 1% staining was used as the threshold, AR expression indicates a poor disease-free survival (DFS) of TNBC patients. TNBC patients with negative BRCA1 show a poor DFS, and BRCA1 suppression is associated with the methylation status of its promoter. Interestingly, BRCA1-/AR + TNBC patients have shorter DFS than other TNBC patients regardless of the threshold for AR positivity. AR antagonists MDV3100 enhances the PARP1 inhibitor Olaparib-mediated decrease of cell viability in AR-positive/BRCA1-inactivated cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggested that combination of AR blockade and PARP1 inhibitor may be a potential strategy for sporadic TNBC patients who characterized by positive-AR expression and BRCA1 inactivation or dysfunction.
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Zuo T, Wilson P, Cicek AF, Harigopal M. Androgen receptor expression is a favorable prognostic factor in triple-negative breast cancers. Hum Pathol 2018; 80:239-245. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Obeidat FN, Ahram M, Al-Khader A, Mbaideen SA, Hassan H, Altarawneh B, Battah K. Expression of androgen receptor in invasive ductal breast carcinomas: a clinicopathological study from Jordan. Ann Saudi Med 2018; 38:326-335. [PMID: 30284987 PMCID: PMC6180220 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2018.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical relevance of androgen receptors (ARs) expressed in breast cancer cells and the suggested prognostic impact has been an area of active research. The prevalence rate of AR expression in breast cancer has never been reported among Jordanian patients. OBJECTIVE Determine the expression rate of ARs among invasive ductal breast cancer cases of different stages and molecular subtypes. Also, analyze the relationship between AR expression and clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical criteria, and assess the impact of AR expression on survival. DESIGN Retrospective medical record review. SETTING Tertiary care hospital in Amman, Jordan. PATIENTS AND METHODS Our study comprised only of cases of invasive ductal breast carcinoma of no special type among females from records during a 10-year period between 2006 and 2015. Immunohistochemical staining was considered positive if more than 10% of tumor nuclei showed positive staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The expression rate of ARs and the association of the expression rate with the clinicopathologic features of invasive breast cancer. SAMPLE SIZE 293. RESULTS Immunohistochemical staining for AR revealed positive stain.ing in 180 (61.4%) cases, including approximately 50% of triple-negative breast cancer cases. AR positivity correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) status (P=.007) and smaller T size (P=.014). However, no significant association was found with any of the other variables. AR expression was positively associated with overall survival (P=.022) in general and in ER-positive cases (P=.012). However, in the multivariate Cox regression model, AR was not independently associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS These results were consistent with international reports showing a significant relationship of AR expression with ER status. In addition, AR expression was significantly associated with smaller tumor size. Although AR status was not independently associated with survival, our data suggest AR is a good prognostic factor. LIMITATIONS Some clinical data were missing. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Nouri Obeidat
- Dr. Fatima Nouri Obeidat, Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Forensic Medicine,, School of Medicine,, University of Jordan,, Amman 11942, Jordan, T: +962-797737300, , ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8836-919X
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Kraby MR, Valla M, Opdahl S, Haugen OA, Sawicka JE, Engstrøm MJ, Bofin AM. The prognostic value of androgen receptors in breast cancer subtypes. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2018; 172:283-296. [PMID: 30109519 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-018-4904-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Androgen receptor (AR) expression is frequent in breast cancer and has been associated with good prognosis in several studies. The present study investigates AR-expression in relation to molecular subtypes, clinicopathological features and prognosis in 1297 primary tumours and 336 paired axillary lymph node metastases (LNM) from two cohorts of Norwegian patients. METHODS Immunohistochemistry for AR was performed on tumours previously reclassified into molecular subtypes using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. Associations between AR-expression and clinical features were studied using Chi-square tests. Cumulative incidence of breast cancer death and Cox regression analyses were used to assess prognosis. RESULTS AR-positivity was found in 78.0% of all cases, 84.9% of luminal and 45.1% of non-luminal tumours. The highest proportion of AR-positivity was found in Luminal B tumours, and the lowest in the Basal phenotype. Discordance in AR-status between primary tumours and lymph node metastases was observed in 21.4% of cases. A switch from AR- primary tumour to AR+ lymph node metastasis was seen in 60/72 discrepant cases. AR-expression in primary tumours was an independent and favourable prognostic marker (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55-0.90), particularly in the Luminal A subtype, and in grade 3 tumours. CONCLUSIONS AR is an independent predictor of good prognosis in BC, particularly in grade 3 and Luminal A tumours. Discordant AR-expression between primary tumour and LNM was observed in 21.4% of cases and most often there was a switch from AR- primary tumour to AR+ axillary LNM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ryssdal Kraby
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marit Valla
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Signe Opdahl
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Olav Anton Haugen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Joanna Ewa Sawicka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Monica Jernberg Engstrøm
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anna Mary Bofin
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. .,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, The Laboratory Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skjalgssons gate 1, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
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Bronte G, Bravaccini S, Ravaioli S, Puccetti M, Scarpi E, Andreis D, Tumedei MM, Sarti S, Cecconetto L, Pietri E, De Simone V, Maltoni R, Bonafè M, Amadori D, Rocca A. Androgen Receptor Expression in Breast Cancer: What Differences Between Primary Tumor and Metastases? Transl Oncol 2018; 11:950-956. [PMID: 29890379 PMCID: PMC6036224 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic studies have shown that the androgen receptor (AR) pathway plays an important role in some breast cancer subtypes. However few data are present on the concordance between AR expression in primary tumors and metastases. We investigated AR expression by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 164 primary tumors and 83 metastases, to explore its distribution in the different tumor subtypes and its concordance between the two sample types and according to sampling time. AR was more highly expressed in luminal A and B than HER2-positive and triple negative primary tumors. A similar distribution was found in metastases, and the concordance of AR expression between primary tumors and metastases was greater than 60%. No association between sampling time and AR expression was observed. We found a good concordance of AR expression between primary tumor and metastasis, but the variability remains high between the two types of specimens, regardless of the variation in sampling time. For this reason, if used for treatment decisions, AR evaluation should be repeated in each patient whenever a new biopsy is performed, as commonly done for the other breast cancer biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Bronte
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Sara Bravaccini
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
| | - Sara Ravaioli
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Scarpi
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Daniele Andreis
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Maria Maddalena Tumedei
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Samanta Sarti
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cecconetto
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pietri
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Valeria De Simone
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Roberta Maltoni
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bonafè
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy; Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dino Amadori
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Andrea Rocca
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy
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Androgen receptor in triple negative breast cancer: A potential target for the targetless subtype. Cancer Treat Rev 2018; 68:102-110. [PMID: 29940524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the 15-20% of all breast cancers (BC) and is characterized by a very aggressive behavior. Recent data suggest that TNBC is not a single disease, but it is rather an umbrella for different ontology-profiles such as basal like 1 and 2, mesenchymal, and the luminal androgen receptor (LAR). The LAR subtype is characterized by the expression of the Androgen Receptor (AR) and its downstream effects. Notwithstanding the role of the AR in several signaling pathways, its impact on a biological and clinical standpoint is still controversial. The LAR subtype has been associated with better prognosis, less chemotherapy responsiveness and lower pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant treatment. Clinical evidence suggests a role for anti-androgen therapies such as bicalutamide, enzalutamide and abiraterone, offering an interesting chemo-free alternative for chemo-unresponsive patients, and therefore potentially shifting current treatment strategies.
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Astvatsaturyan K, Yue Y, Walts AE, Bose S. Androgen receptor positive triple negative breast cancer: Clinicopathologic, prognostic, and predictive features. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197827. [PMID: 29883487 PMCID: PMC5993259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overexpression of the androgen receptor (AR) characterizes a distinct molecular subset of triple negative breast carcinomas (TNBC). The role of AR as a prognostic/predictive biomarker in TNBC is controversial, but increasing evidence suggests that this subset may respond to therapeutic agents targeting AR. Evaluation of AR has not been standardized, and criteria for selection of patients for antiandrogen therapy remain controversial. In this study we determine the appropriate threshold of AR immunoreactivity to define AR positive (AR+) TNBC, describe the clinicopathologic features of AR+ TNBC, and discuss the utility of AR positivity as a prognostic and predictive marker in TNBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS 135 invasive TNBC processed in accordance with ASCO/CAP guidelines, were immunostained for AR. Clinicopathologic features of AR+ TNBC were analyzed and compared to AR negative (AR-) TNBC. Patients' age, tumor size, tumor grade, lymph node status, proliferation rate, immunopositivity for EGFR, CK5/6, Ki-67, and disease free survival (DFS) were evaluated statistically. RESULTS A 1% cutpoint was confirmed as the appropriate threshold for AR positivity. Using this cutpoint 41% of 135 TNBC were AR+. AR+ TNBC occurred in older women, were larger, had lower mean proliferation rate and increased incidence of axillary metastasis than AR- TNBC. 76% of TNBC with apocrine morphology were AR+. A subset of AR+TNBC expressed basal markers (EGFR and CK5/6). A prognostic model was created. SUMMARY AR identifies a heterogeneous group of TNBC. Additional evaluation of EGFR expression allowed us to stratify TNBCs into 3 risk groups with significant differences in DFS and therapeutic implications: low-risk (AR+ EGFR-) which represents the LAR molecular subtype with the best prognosis and may benefit the most from anti-androgen therapies; high-risk (AR- EGFR+) which represents the basal molecular subtype with the worst prognosis and may benefit the most from chemotherapy regimens; intermediate-risk (AR+EGFR+ and AR-EGFR-) TNBC with an intermediate prognosis. Prospective trials are required to further validate this prognostic and predictive grouping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Astvatsaturyan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Yong Yue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ann E. Walts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Shikha Bose
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Liu YX, Zhang KJ, Tang LL. Clinical significance of androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer-an immunohistochemistry study. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:10008-10016. [PMID: 29844843 PMCID: PMC5958876 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR) is closely associated with the occurrence and progression of breast cancer; however, the clinical significance of it in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been controversial. There is a limited amount of research regarding the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on AR expression. By examining the expression of AR in patients with TNBC, the aim of the present study is to explore the clinical significance of AR and provide evidence for AR-directed treatment in TNBC. A total of 188 patients with primary TNBC with complete medical records were included in this retrospective study. Tumor sections from 41 patients (21.8%) were positive for AR, which was more often detected in small tumors (P=0.042) and cases with no lymph node involvement (P=0.032). Among them, 102 were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). A total of 17 patients (16.7%) exhibited pathological complete response. However, the patient response was irrelevant to AR expression. Matched pathological tissues before and after NAC were collected for 49 cases, suggesting an enrichment of AR-expressing tumors following chemotherapy (P=0.008). Further analysis indicated that AR expression had no correlation with the disease-free and overall survival of patients with general TNBC; rather, it predicted a poor survival of the patients with stage III TNBC in comparison with those at earlier stages (P=0.035). AR expression occurs more often in small TNBC tumors or in cases with no lymph node metastasis. It is associated with a poor prognosis of the patients with advanced stages of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Xuan Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Prevention and Clinical Research Center, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Ke-Jing Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Prevention and Clinical Research Center, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Li-Li Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Prevention and Clinical Research Center, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
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Ricciardelli C, Bianco-Miotto T, Jindal S, Butler LM, Leung S, McNeil CM, O'Toole SA, Ebrahimie E, Millar EKA, Sakko AJ, Ruiz AI, Vowler SL, Huntsman DG, Birrell SN, Sutherland RL, Palmieri C, Hickey TE, Tilley WD. The Magnitude of Androgen Receptor Positivity in Breast Cancer Is Critical for Reliable Prediction of Disease Outcome. Clin Cancer Res 2018. [PMID: 29514843 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Consensus is lacking regarding the androgen receptor (AR) as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. The objectives of this study were to comprehensively review the literature on AR prognostication and determine optimal criteria for AR as an independent predictor of breast cancer survival.Experimental Design: AR positivity was assessed by immunostaining in two clinically validated primary breast cancer cohorts [training cohort, n = 219; validation cohort, n = 418; 77% and 79% estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive, respectively]. The optimal AR cut-point was determined by ROC analysis in the training cohort and applied to both cohorts.Results: AR was an independent prognostic marker of breast cancer outcome in 22 of 46 (48%) previous studies that performed multivariate analyses. Most studies used cut-points of 1% or 10% nuclear positivity. Herein, neither 1% nor 10% cut-points were robustly prognostic. ROC analysis revealed that a higher AR cut-point (78% positivity) provided optimal sensitivity and specificity to predict breast cancer survival in the training (HR, 0.41; P = 0.015) and validation (HR, 0.50; P = 0.014) cohorts. Tenfold cross-validation confirmed the robustness of this AR cut-point. Patients with ERα-positive tumors and AR positivity ≥78% had the best survival in both cohorts (P < 0.0001). Among the combined ERα-positive cases, those with comparable or higher levels of AR (AR:ERα-positivity ratio >0.87) had the best outcomes (P < 0.0001).Conclusions: This study defines an optimal AR cut-point to reliably predict breast cancer survival. Testing this cut-point in prospective cohorts is warranted for implementation of AR as a prognostic factor in the clinical management of breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 24(10); 2328-41. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Ricciardelli
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tina Bianco-Miotto
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shalini Jindal
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lisa M Butler
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Samuel Leung
- Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catriona M McNeil
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sandra A O'Toole
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Esmaeil Ebrahimie
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ewan K A Millar
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew J Sakko
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alexandra I Ruiz
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sarah L Vowler
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen N Birrell
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Robert L Sutherland
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carlo Palmieri
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Academic Department of Medical Oncology, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa E Hickey
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Wayne D Tilley
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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Kwilas AR, Ardiani A, Gameiro SR, Richards J, Hall AB, Hodge JW. Androgen deprivation therapy sensitizes triple negative breast cancer cells to immune-mediated lysis through androgen receptor independent modulation of osteoprotegerin. Oncotarget 2018; 7:23498-511. [PMID: 27015557 PMCID: PMC5029642 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Among breast cancer types, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the fewest treatment options and the lowest 5-year survival rate. Androgen receptor (AR) inhibition has displayed efficacy against breast cancer preclinically and is currently being examined clinically in AR positive TNBC patients. Androgen deprivation has been shown to induce immunogenic modulation; the alteration of tumor cell phenotype resulting in increased sensitivity to immune-mediated killing. We evaluated the ability of AR inhibition to reduce the growth and improve the immune-mediated killing of breast cancer cells with differing expression of the estrogen receptor and AR. While AR expression was required for the growth inhibitory effects of enzalutamide on breast cancer cells, both enzalutamide and abiraterone improved the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to immune-mediated lysis independent of detectable AR expression. This increase in sensitivity was linked to an increase in cell surface tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor expression as well as a significant reduction in the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG). The reduction in OPG was further examined and found to be critical for the increase in sensitivity of AR- TNBC cells to immune-mediated killing. The data presented herein further support the use of AR inhibition therapy in the AR+ TNBC setting. These data, however, also support the consideration of AR inhibition therapy for the treatment of AR- TNBC, especially in combination with cancer immunotherapy, providing a potential novel therapeutic option for select patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Kwilas
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andressa Ardiani
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sofia R Gameiro
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob Richards
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ashley B Hall
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Echavarria I, López-Tarruella S, Picornell A, García-Saenz JÁ, Jerez Y, Hoadley K, Gómez HL, Moreno F, Monte-Millan MD, Márquez-Rodas I, Alvarez E, Ramos-Medina R, Gayarre J, Massarrah T, Ocaña I, Cebollero M, Fuentes H, Barnadas A, Ballesteros AI, Bohn U, Perou CM, Martin M. Pathological Response in a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cohort Treated with Neoadjuvant Carboplatin and Docetaxel According to Lehmann's Refined Classification. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:1845-1852. [PMID: 29378733 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) requires the iden- tification of reliable predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). For this purpose, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the TNBCtype-4 classifier in a cohort of patients with TNBC treated with neoadjuvant carboplatin and docetaxel (TCb).Methods: Patients with TNBC were accrued in a nonrandomized trial of neoadjuvant carboplatin AUC 6 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 for six cycles. Response was evaluated in terms of pathologic complete response (pCR, ypT0/is ypN0) and residual cancer burden by Symmans and colleagues. Lehmann's subtyping was performed using the TNBCtype online tool from RNAseq data, and germline sequencing of a panel of seven DNA damage repair genes was conducted.Results: Ninety-four out of the 121 patients enrolled in the trial had RNAseq available. The overall pCR rate was 44.7%. Lehmann subtype distribution was 34.0% BL1, 20.2% BL2, 23.4% M, 14.9% LAR, and 7.4% were classified as ER+. Response to NACT with TCb was significantly associated with Lehmann subtype (P = 0.027), even in multivariate analysis including tumor size and nodal involvement, with BL1 patients achieving the highest pCR rate (65.6%), followed by BL2 (47.4%), M (36.4%), and LAR (21.4%). BL1 was associated with a significant younger age at diagnosis and higher ki67 values. Among our 10 germline mutation carriers, 30% were BL1, 40% were BL2, and 30% were M.Conclusions: TNBCtype-4 is associated with significantly different pCR rates for the different subtypes, with BL1 and LAR displaying the best and worse responses to NACT, respectively. Clin Cancer Res; 24(8); 1845-52. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Echavarria
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sara López-Tarruella
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antoni Picornell
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Yolanda Jerez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katherine Hoadley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Henry L Gómez
- Medical Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas - INEN, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | - Iván Márquez-Rodas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Ramos-Medina
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Gayarre
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tatiana Massarrah
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Ocaña
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), CiberOnc, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Cebollero
- Department of Pathology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugo Fuentes
- Medical Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas - INEN, Lima, Peru
| | - Agusti Barnadas
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Uriel Bohn
- Medical Oncology, Hospital de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Miguel Martin
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon (IiSGM), Universidad Complutense, CiberOnc, GEICAM, Madrid, Spain.
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Hamilton N, Austin D, Márquez-Garbán D, Sanchez R, Chau B, Foos K, Wu Y, Vadgama J, Pietras R. Receptors for Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 and Androgens as Therapeutic Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E2305. [PMID: 29099049 PMCID: PMC5713274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18112305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) occurs in 10-15% of all breast cancer patients, yet it accounts for about half of all breast cancer deaths. There is an urgent need to identify new antitumor targets to provide additional treatment options for patients afflicted with this aggressive disease. Preclinical evidence suggests a critical role for insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2) and androgen receptor (AR) in regulating TNBC progression. To advance this work, a panel of TNBC cell lines was investigated with all cell lines showing significant expression of IGF2. Treatment with IGF2 stimulated cell proliferation in vitro (p < 0.05). Importantly, combination treatments with IGF1R inhibitors BMS-754807 and NVP-AEW541 elicited significant inhibition of TNBC cell proliferation (p < 0.001). Based on Annexin-V binding assays, BMS-754807, NVP-AEW541 and enzalutamide induced TNBC cell death (p < 0.005). Additionally, combination of enzalutamide with BMS-754807 or NVP-AEW541 exerted significant reductions in TNBC proliferation even in cells with low AR expression (p < 0.001). Notably, NVP-AEW541 and BMS-754807 reduced AR levels in BT549 TNBC cells. These results provide evidence that IGF2 promotes TNBC cell viability and proliferation, while inhibition of IGF1R/IR and AR pathways contribute to blockade of TNBC proliferation and promotion of apoptosis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalo Hamilton
- UCLA School of Nursing, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - David Austin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cancer Research and Training, Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Diana Márquez-Garbán
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Rudy Sanchez
- Department of Biology, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA 93012, USA.
| | - Brittney Chau
- Department of Integrative Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Physiology, UCLA College of Life Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Kay Foos
- Department Physiological, UCLA College of Life Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Yanyuan Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cancer Research and Training, Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Jaydutt Vadgama
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cancer Research and Training, Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Richard Pietras
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cancer Research and Training, Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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AR Signaling in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:cancers9030021. [PMID: 28245550 PMCID: PMC5366816 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9030021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor (AR, a member of the steroid hormone receptor family) status has become increasingly important as both a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target in breast cancer. AR is expressed in up to 90% of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, and to a lesser degree, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) amplified tumors. In the former, AR signaling has been correlated with a better prognosis given its inhibitory activity in estrogen dependent disease, though conversely has also been shown to increase resistance to anti-estrogen therapies such as tamoxifen. AR blockade can mitigate this resistance, and thus serves as a potential target in ER-positive breast cancer. In HER2 amplified breast cancer, studies are somewhat conflicting, though most show either no effect or are associated with poorer survival. Much of the available data on AR signaling is in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is an aggressive disease with inferior outcomes comparative to other breast cancer subtypes. At present, there are no approved targeted therapies in TNBC, making study of the AR signaling pathway compelling. Gene expression profiling studies have also identified a luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype that is dependent on AR signaling in TNBC. Regardless, there seems to be an association between AR expression and improved outcomes in TNBC. Despite lower pathologic complete response (pCR) rates with neoadjuvant therapy, patients with AR-expressing TNBC have been shown to have a better prognosis than those that are AR-negative. Clinical studies targeting AR have shown somewhat promising results. In this paper we review the literature on the biology of AR in breast cancer and its prognostic and predictive roles. We also present our thoughts on therapeutic strategies.
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Masili-Oku SM, Almeida BGLD, Bacchi CE, Filassi JR, Baracat EC, Carvalho FM. Lymphocyte-predominant triple-negative breast carcinomas in premenopausal patients: Lower expression of basal immunohistochemical markers. Breast 2017; 31:34-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Kim JY, Park K, Lee E, Jung HH, Ahn JS, Im YH, Park WY, Park YH. The effect of androgen receptor expression on clinical characterization of metastatic breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:8693-8706. [PMID: 28060723 PMCID: PMC5352433 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In breast cancer (BC), androgen receptor (AR) expression is related to estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PgR) expression. AR expression is an indicator of good prognosis in breast cancer regardless of hormone receptor (HR) status. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AR-related gene expression on clinical characterization of metastatic BC. We performed RNA-Seq to evaluate gene expression using mRNA extracted from 37 patients with metastatic BC. Intrinsic subtype prediction, analysis of differential gene expression, and gene set enrichment pathway analysis were then performed. Metastatic BCs were categorized into three subgroups based on AR, ER, PgR, and HER2 expression. According to this subcategorization, 70 genes including AR, ER, and HER2 were differentially expressed among the three groups. In gene set enrichment pathway analysis, the low AR group was associated with the cell cycle pathway, whereas mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways was prevalent in the high ER and AR group. In survival analysis, a higher level of AR expression correlated with prolonged overall survival in metastatic BC (high expression vs. low expression, median OS 53.1 vs. 27.2 months, p=.001). In conclusion, we propose that AR and AR-related gene expression could be utilized to predict the prognosis of metastatic BC and thus may be useful in treatment planning for refractory BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yeon Kim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Kyunghee Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Eunjin Lee
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Hae Hyun Jung
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Jin Seok Ahn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Young-Hyuck Im
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Yeon Hee Park
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea
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Expression and Clinical Significance of Androgen Receptor in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2017; 9:cancers9010004. [PMID: 28067809 PMCID: PMC5295775 DOI: 10.3390/cancers9010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis because of frequent recurrence. Androgen receptor (AR) is involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, but its role is not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of AR and its relationship with clinicopathologic features in TNBC. METHODS This study investigated 1036 cases of sporadic invasive breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemical assays were performed to determine the expression of AR in 190 TNBC samples. The relationships between AR expression and clinicopathologic data and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS In 190 TNBC cases, the prognosis of AR-positive patients was significantly better (p = 0.019, log-rank) than AR-negative patients, and in multivariate analysis, AR expression was an independent indicator of good prognosis (p = 0.039, hazard ratio = 0.36). In patients with disease relapse, AR positivity was significantly correlated with better prognosis (p = 0.034, log-rank). CONCLUSIONS AR expression may be useful as a subclassification marker for prognosis in TNBC.
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Luo J, Jin J, Yang F, Sun Z, Zhang W, Shi Y, Xu J, Guan X. The Correlation Between PARP1 and BRCA1 in AR Positive Triple-negative Breast Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2016; 12:1500-1510. [PMID: 27994514 PMCID: PMC5166491 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.16176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression and thus cannot benefit from conventional hormonal or anti-HER2 targeted therapies. Anti-androgen therapy has shown a certain effect on androgen receptor (AR) positive TNBC. The emerging researches have proved that poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor is effective in BRCA1-deficient breast cancers. We demonstrated that combination of AR antagonist (bicalutamide) and PARP inhibitor (ABT-888) could inhibit cell viability and induce cell apoptosis significantly whatever in vitro or in vivo setting in AR-positive TNBC. Previous studies have proved that both BRCA1 and PARP1 have close connections with AR in prostate cancer. We explored the correlation among AR, PARP1 and BRCA1 in TNBC for the first time. After BRCA1 overexpression, the expression of AR and PARP1 were decreased in mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, AR positively regulated PARP1 while PARP1 also up-regulated AR expression in vitro. We also confirmed BRCA1 expression was negatively correlated with AR and PARP1 in TNBC patients using a tissue microarray with TNBC patient samples. These results suggest that the combination of bicalutamide and PARP inhibitor may be a potential strategy for TNBC patients and merits further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Zijia Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Yaqin Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China
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Triple-negative breast cancer: advancements in characterization and treatment approach. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2016; 28:59-69. [PMID: 26694831 DOI: 10.1097/gco.0000000000000239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises 15-20% of all breast cancer and is defined by the lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and absence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 amplification. Compared with patients with hormone receptor positive or Her-2 positive breast cancer, patients with TNBC are more commonly young (age <50 years), African-American and have a higher incidence of BRCA1/2 mutations. The clinical course is frequently characterized by early relapse and poor overall survival. The TNBC phenotype is impervious to therapies commonly used in other breast cancer subtypes, including hormonal therapy and Her-2 receptor antagonism. Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the only approved treatment. With its aggressive clinical course and paucity of effective treatment options, TNBC represents an unmet clinical need. This review will focus on updates of the biologic underpinnings of TNBC and the associated treatment advances. RECENT FINDINGS Numerous advancements have been made toward understanding the biologic framework of TNBC. Gene expression profiling has revealed six clinically relevant subsets of TNBC. Further study has demonstrated a portion of TNBC exhibits a strong immune gene signature. Lastly, it is now appreciated that a subgroup of sporadic TNBC shares biologic characteristics with BRCA1/2-mutated breast cancer, notably homologous repair deficiency. Recent studies focus on incorporation of platinum salts and new combinations of conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Targeted agents, including poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibitors, and androgen antagonist are also being evaluated. Most recently, checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated a modest degree of activity in a subset of TNBC. SUMMARY These discoveries are informing novel treatment paradigms and identification of correlative biomarkers in TNBC. Improved understanding of the biologic heterogeneity of TNBC is allowing for a more effective and individualized approach to treatment.
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Androgen Receptor Expression in Thai Breast Cancer Patients. Med Sci (Basel) 2016; 4:medsci4030015. [PMID: 29083379 PMCID: PMC5635797 DOI: 10.3390/medsci4030015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and related factors of androgen receptor (AR) expression in Thai breast cancer patients. A descriptive study was done in 95 patients, who were admitted to Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Bangkok (2011-2013). Statistical relationships were examined between AR protein expression, tumor status, and patient characteristics. Compared with those from Western countries, ethnic Thai patients were younger at age of diagnosis and had a higher proliferative index (high Ki-67 expression), which indicates unfavorable prognosis. In addition, 91% of the Thai breast tumors that were positive for any of the following receptors, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) also expressed the AR protein, while in triple negative breast tumors only 33% were AR positive. ER and PR expression was positively related with AR expression, while AR expression was inversely correlated to Ki-67 expression. AR status was strongly correlated with ER and PR status in Thai patients. There is an inverse relationship between Ki-67 and AR, which suggests that AR may be a prognostic factor for breast cancer.
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