αB-crystallin Expression in Breast Cancer is Associated with Brain Metastasis

Background/objectives: The molecular chaperone αB-crystallin is expressed in estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 "triple-negative" breast carcinomas and promotes brain and lung metastasis. We examined αB-crystallin expression in primary breast carcinomas with metastatic data to evaluate its association with prognosis and site-specific metastases.

Methods: αB-crystallin gene (CRYAB) expression was examined using publically available global-gene expression data (n=855 breast tumors) with first site of distant metastasis information ("855Met"). αB-crystallin protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using the clinically annotated tissue microarray (n=3987 breast tumors) from British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of αB-crystallin. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risks of αB-crystallin and other markers for site of metastasis.

Results: In the 855Met dataset, αB-crystallin gene (CRYAB) expression was an independent predictor of brain as the first distant site of relapse (HR = 1.2, (95% CI 1.0-1.4), P = 0.021). In the BCCA series, αB-crystallin protein expression was an independent prognostic marker of poor breast cancer specific survival (HR = 1.3, (95% CI 1.1-1.6), P = 0.014). Among patients with metastases, αB-crystallin was the strongest independent predictor of brain metastasis (OR = 2.99 (95% CI 1.83-4.89), P < 0.0001) and the only independent predictor of brain as the first site of distant metastasis (OR = 3.15 (95% CI1.43-6.95), P = 0.005). αB-crystallin was also associated with worse survival (3.0 versus 4.7 months, P = 0.007).

Conclusions: αB-crystallin is a promising biomarker to identify breast cancer patients at high risk for early relapse in the brain, independent of ER and HER2 status.