Expression of histone methyltransferase WHSC1 in invasive breast cancer and its correlation with clinical and pathological data

Abstract

BackgroundThe WHSC1 protein facilitates specific dimethylation of histone H3 at the K36 position, enhancing gene transcription and expression. Studies have confirmed its high expression in diverse malignant tumors. We aimed to identify novel molecular markers to assess the biological behavior of breast cancer cells. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive analysis of mRNA expression in breast cancer and adjacent tissues based on TCGA data. We enrolled 141 breast cancer patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between 2012 and 2016. Patient clinical information and pathological specimens were obtained. We utilized tissue microarray (TMA) technology. We employed the chi-square test for between-group comparisons, with p<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Furthermore, we analyzed the associations between WHSC1 expression and clinical or pathological data. ResultsWHSC1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues (p<0.001). Moreover, high WHSC1 protein expression in breast cancer was associated with several important clinical parameters, such as pathological type (p=0.007), high Ki67 expression（Ki67＞20%） (p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (p<0.001), T stage (p=0.011), N stage (p<0.001), postoperative pathological stage (p<0.001), premenopausal status (p=0.004), and positive HER2 status (p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that high WHSC1 expression, elevated Ki67 levels, and positive HER2 status were independent risk factors for axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients. ConclusionWHSC1 protein expression is upregulated in breast cancer patients and represents an independent risk factor influencing axillary lymph node metastasis, highlighting its potential significance as a strong candidate biomarker.