J Cancer 2018; 9(15):2589-2602. doi:10.7150/jca.23023 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression

Harald Hessel1, Manuela Poignée-Heger2, Sabine Lohmann2, Bianca Hirscher3, Andrea Herold2, Gerald Assmann1,4, Jan Budczies5, Karl Sotlar1,6, Thomas Kirchner1✉

1. Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany
2. Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany
3. Roche Diagnostics International AG, Rotkreuz, Switzerland
4. Pathologiepraxis München, Germany
5. Institute of Pathology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
6. University Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Austria

Citation:
Hessel H, Poignée-Heger M, Lohmann S, Hirscher B, Herold A, Assmann G, Budczies J, Sotlar K, Kirchner T. Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression. J Cancer 2018; 9(15):2589-2602. doi:10.7150/jca.23023. https://www.jcancer.org/v09p2589.htm
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Abstract

Background: "Triple-negative breast cancers" (TNBC) comprise a heterogeneous group of about 15% of invasive BCs lacking the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) and the expression of HER2 (ERBB2) and are therefore no established candidates for targeted treatment options in BC, i.e., endocrine and anti-HER2 therapy. The aim of the present study was to use gene expression profiling and immunohistochemical (IHC) characterization to identify receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) profiles that would allow patient stratification for the purposes of target-oriented personalized tumor therapy in TNBC.

Methods: Twenty-nine cases of TNBC selected according to routine diagnostic IHC/cytogenetic criteria were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RTK mRNA expression profiles were generated for a total of 31 tumor-relevant biomarkers, mainly belonging to the IGF- and EGF-receptor families but also including biomarkers related to downstream signaling. Protein expression of selected biomarkers was investigated by IHC.

Results: Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a dichotomous differentiation pattern amongst TNBCs. A significant difference in gene expression was observed for 16 of the 31 RTK-associated tumor relevant biomarkers between the two newly identified TNBC subgroups. The findings were verified at the posttranslational level by the IHC data. The RTKs HER4, IGF-1R and IGF-2R and the hormone receptors ER and PR below the IHC detection limit play a central role in the differentiation of the two TNBC subgroups. Observed survival was reported as Kaplan-Meier estimates and point towards an improved survival of patients with RTK-high with superior three-year survival rate of 100% compared to RTK-low gene signatures with superior three-year survival rate of 60% (log-rank test, p-value = 0.022).

Conclusion: Gene-expression and IHC analysis of the EGF and IGF receptor families and biomarkers associated with downstream signaling point to the existence of two distinct TNBC subtypes. The RTKs HER4, IGF-1R, IGF-2R and the hormone receptors ER and PR appear to be of particular importance here. Based on survival analysis the differentiation of TNBC with RTK-high and RTK-low gene signatures seems to be of prognostic relevance. Additionally, correlation analysis of the relationship between RTKs and ER suggests co-regulatory mechanisms that may have potential significance in new therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: triple-negative breast cancer, subtyping, personalized tumor therapy, Real-Time RT-PCR, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), RTK-high gene signature, RTK-low gene signature


Citation styles

APA
Hessel, H., Poignée-Heger, M., Lohmann, S., Hirscher, B., Herold, A., Assmann, G., Budczies, J., Sotlar, K., Kirchner, T. (2018). Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression. Journal of Cancer, 9(15), 2589-2602. https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.23023.

ACS
Hessel, H.; Poignée-Heger, M.; Lohmann, S.; Hirscher, B.; Herold, A.; Assmann, G.; Budczies, J.; Sotlar, K.; Kirchner, T. Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression. J. Cancer 2018, 9 (15), 2589-2602. DOI: 10.7150/jca.23023.

NLM
Hessel H, Poignée-Heger M, Lohmann S, Hirscher B, Herold A, Assmann G, Budczies J, Sotlar K, Kirchner T. Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression. J Cancer 2018; 9(15):2589-2602. doi:10.7150/jca.23023. https://www.jcancer.org/v09p2589.htm

CSE
Hessel H, Poignée-Heger M, Lohmann S, Hirscher B, Herold A, Assmann G, Budczies J, Sotlar K, Kirchner T. 2018. Subtyping Of Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma On The Basis Of RTK Expression. J Cancer. 9(15):2589-2602.

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