Triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), characterized by absence of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and lack of overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), have a poor prognosis. To overcome therapy limitations of TNBC, various new approaches are needed. This mini-review focuses on discovery of new targets and drugs which might offer new hope for TNBC patients.

Overexpression of Raf-1 in basal-like carcinoma of the breast: correlation with clinicopathology and prognosis

Aim of the study

Increased Raf-1 expression has been associated with an aggressive behaviour in some carcinomas such as pulmonary carcinoma and renal carcinoma. However, its role in breast cancer, especially in basal-like carcinoma of the breast (BLBC), has not been defined.

Material and methods

The current study attempted to investigate the expression pattern of Raf-1 protein in BLBC, in relation to the biological behaviour and prognosis of the carcinoma. Expression of Raf-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in carcinoma specimens from 74 cases of BLBC, and associations between their expression and the clinicopathological characteristics were statistically assessed.

Results

The patients’ age, tumour size, BRCA1, and p53 protein expression was not significantly different between the Raf-1-positive and Raf-1-negative expression groups (p > 0.05). The proportion of histological grade 3 tumours was not significantly higher in the Raf-1 positive group than that of grade 2 tumours (p > 0.05). However, positive cytoplasmic Raf-1 expression was positively correlated to Ki-67 expression (p < 0.05). Also, increased Raf-1 protein was found to exert an unfavourable impact on patients’ axillary lymph node metastasis and overall survival (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The study implies that positive Raf-1 expression in BLBC is associated with a more aggressive phenotype and could be considered as a new prognostic biomarker for poor survival in BLBC patients.