Abstract P4-07-20: Survival analysis using the entire transcriptome to pinpoint biomarkers with the highest prognostic power

Abstract

Abstract Introduction. Extensive research is directed to uncover new biomarkers capable to stratify breast cancer patients into clinically relevant cohorts. However, the overall performance ranking of such marker candidates compared to other genes is virtually absent. Here, we present the ranking of all survival related genes in chemotherapy treated basal and estrogen positive/HER2 negative breast cancer. Methods. We searched the GEO repository to uncover transcriptomic datasets with available follow-up and clinical data. After quality control and normalization, samples entered an integrated database. Molecular subtypes were designated using gene expression data. Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression. False discovery rate was computed to combat multiple hypothesis testing. Kaplan-Meier plots were drawn to visualize the best performing genes. Results. The entire database includes 7,830 unique samples from 55 independent datasets. Of those with available relapse-free survival time, 3,382 samples were estrogen receptor-positive and 696 were basal. In chemotherapy treated ER positive/ERBB2 negative patients the significant prognostic biomarker genes achieved hazard rates between 1.76 and 3.33 with a p value below 5.8E-04. The significant prognostic genes in adjuvant chemotherapy treated basal breast cancer samples reached hazard rates between 1.88 and 3.61 with a p value below 7.2E-04. Finally, an online accessible platform utilizing the entire database was set up enabling the validation of future biomarker candidates. Conclusions. A reference ranking for all genes in two chemotherapy treated breast cancer cohorts is presented. The results help to neglect those with unlikely clinical significance and to focus future research on the most promising candidates. Citation Format: Balazs Gyorffy. Survival analysis using the entire transcriptome to pinpoint biomarkers with the highest prognostic power [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-07-20.