Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy with the highest incidence rates among women worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) disease is diagnosed more frequently in younger women, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Elevated levels of serum haptoglobin protein (Hp) are observed in many malignant diseases including breast cancer. We evaluated the expression and prognostic value of Hp among patients with TNBC. Serum Hp levels were determined by Elisa in 41 patients with TNBC and 10 normal individuals. Hp status was correlated with other clinico-pathological parameters including patient survival. Of the 41 patients with TNBC, Hp over expression was detected in 24 (59%) by Elisa. Hp up-regulation was confirmed by Elisa based quantification in the serum of 41 TNBC patients against lower grades and 10 normal individuals. Survival analysis revealed that Hp (p=2.016x10-5), stage (p=2.166x10-5), distant metastasis (p=2.217x10-5), tumor size (p=1.053x10-5), and tumor grade (p=0.001), correlated with patient survival on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that Hp (p=0.001), and grade of the disease (p=0.008) were independent predictors of survival. Our results indicate that serum levels of Hp may play a role as a potential serum biomarker and prognostic indicator among TNBC patients. Thus, Hp may present a new promising prognostic biomarker in TNBC patients, but independent validations are now necessary for confirmation.
Highlights
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined as hormone receptor-negative and HER2/neu-negative breast cancer
Correlation between patient survival and haptoglobin protein (Hp) expression: Survival analysis revealed that Hp over expression is found to be poor prognostic indicators
No information is available in the literature about the serum specific expression of Hp in TNBC, differential expression between normal and breast cancer patients, involving different grades and its significance in prognosis
Summary
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined as hormone receptor-negative and HER2/neu-negative breast cancer. There is a clinical need to identify new prognostic biomarkers that can be used to predict a therapeutic response and clinical outcomes in TNBC patients to rationalize treatment decisions. Up-regulation of biomarkers in the serum of cancer patients by Elisa has helped to identify new markers that have diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic value (Kawai, 1995). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) disease is diagnosed more frequently in younger women, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Materials and Methods: Serum Hp levels were determined by Elisa in 41 patients with TNBC and 10 normal individuals. Hp up-regulation was confirmed by Elisa based quantification in the serum of 41 TNBC patients against lower grades and 10 normal individuals. Hp may present a new promising prognostic biomarker in TNBC patients, but independent validations are necessary for confirmation
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