Stratification Using hTERT and Stem Cell Markers Confers a Good Prognosis in Invasive Breast Cancer

Umar Wazir; Salim Tayeh; Mona A W Orakzai; Tracey A Martin; Wen G Jiang; Kefah Mokbel

doi:10.21873/cgp.20177

Stratification Using hTERT and Stem Cell Markers Confers a Good Prognosis in Invasive Breast Cancer

Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2020 Mar-Apr;17(2):169-174. doi: 10.21873/cgp.20177.

Authors

Umar Wazir^{1

2}, Salim Tayeh¹, Mona A W Orakzai¹, Tracey A Martin³, Wen G Jiang³, Kefah Mokbel^{4

2}

Affiliations

¹ The London Breast Institute, Princess Grace Hospital, London, U.K.
² Department of General Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
³ Cardiff-China Cancer Research Collaboration, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, U.K.
⁴ The London Breast Institute, Princess Grace Hospital, London, U.K. kefahmokbel@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Background/aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic role of a previously identified panel of 10 stem cell markers stratified against the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) in human breast cancer.

Materials and methods: The mRNA copy numbers of these genes were determined using real time quantitative PCR in 124 breast cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Relations between mRNA levels and survival were analysed using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression analysis.

Results: Five genes (BMI1, NES, POU5F1, ALDH1A2 and CDKN1A) correlated with survival when stratified with hTERT and predicted overall (Wilcoxon: p=0.004; Cox: p=0.006) and disease-free (Wilcoxon: p<0.000; Cox: p=0.000) survival.

Conclusion: This panel of genes stratified by hTERT could open new avenues for the development of new prognostic tools, as well as for the identification of new research directions regarding breast oncogenesis.

Keywords: Prognosis; breast cancer; cell cycle; pluripotency.

MeSH terms

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family / genetics
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family / metabolism
Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
Breast Neoplasms / pathology
Case-Control Studies
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
Female
Humans
Nestin / genetics
Nestin / metabolism
Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / metabolism
Prognosis
RNA, Messenger / genetics
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Retinal Dehydrogenase / genetics
Retinal Dehydrogenase / metabolism
Survival Analysis
Survival Rate
Telomerase / genetics*
Telomerase / metabolism

Substances

BMI1 protein, human
Biomarkers, Tumor
CDKN1A protein, human
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
NES protein, human
Nestin
Octamer Transcription Factor-3
POU5F1 protein, human
RNA, Messenger
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
ALDH1A2 protein, human
Retinal Dehydrogenase
Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
TERT protein, human
Telomerase