Androgen Receptor (AR), E-Cadherin, and Ki-67 as Emerging Targets and Novel Prognostic Markers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Patients

Giuseppina Rosaria Rita Ricciardi; Barbara Adamo; Antonio Ieni; Luana Licata; Roberta Cardia; Giuseppa Ferraro; Tindara Franchina; Giovanni Tuccari; Vincenzo Adamo

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128368

Androgen Receptor (AR), E-Cadherin, and Ki-67 as Emerging Targets and Novel Prognostic Markers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Patients

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 3;10(6):e0128368. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128368. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Giuseppina Rosaria Rita Ricciardi¹, Barbara Adamo², Antonio Ieni³, Luana Licata³, Roberta Cardia³, Giuseppa Ferraro¹, Tindara Franchina¹, Giovanni Tuccari³, Vincenzo Adamo¹

Affiliations

¹ Medical Oncology Unit AOOR Papardo-Piemonte & Department of Human Pathology University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
² Oncologia Mèdica Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
³ Department of Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Abstract

Background: TNBC is an aggressive subset of breast cancer (BC) without specific target therapy.

Methods: This observational, retrospective study included 45 cases of TNBC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the AR, E-cadherin and Ki-67 in relation to histological type, time to relapse and overall survival (OS). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was carried out on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples obtained from patients defined TNBC.

Results: The AR was positive (IHC >10%) in 26.6%. E-cadherin (CDH1) expression was considered positive if the score was ≥ 2. This expression was negative in 53.3% cases. The Ki-67 index was ≥ 20% in 37.7%. Univariate analyses showed that AR, CDH1 and Ki-67 are significantly associated with OS. Multivariate analysis showed that AR and Ki-67 expression are independent variables associated with OS. The statistical analysis showed that patients with AR negative and Ki-67 positive expression have a significant correlation with poor outcome.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that the combination of AR and E-cadherin expression as well as Ki-67 status might be useful prognostic markers in TNBC. Hence, these molecular determinants could play an interesting role to classify subgroups of TNBC.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Antigens, CD
Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
Cadherins / genetics
Cadherins / metabolism
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / diagnosis*
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
Carcinoma, Lobular / diagnosis*
Carcinoma, Lobular / genetics
Carcinoma, Lobular / mortality
Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
Carcinoma, Medullary / diagnosis*
Carcinoma, Medullary / genetics
Carcinoma, Medullary / mortality
Carcinoma, Medullary / pathology
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
Ki-67 Antigen / genetics
Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
Prognosis
Receptors, Androgen / genetics
Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
Retrospective Studies
Survival Analysis
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / mortality
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

AR protein, human
Antigens, CD
Biomarkers, Tumor
CDH1 protein, human
Cadherins
Ki-67 Antigen
Receptors, Androgen

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.