FSCN1 gene polymorphisms: biomarkers for the development and progression of breast cancer

Chao-Qun Wang,Yan Wang,Xiaoni Li,Qian Wang,Lulu Jin,Chih-Hsin Tang,Chen-Ming Su,Bi-Fei Huang,Gui-Nv Hu,Yong-Ming Zhao

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-16196-6

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Fascin-1 (FSCN1) is an actin-binding protein found in mammalian cells, including endothelial, neuronal and mesenchymal cells. FSCN1 overexpression has been indicated in breast cancer patients. However, scant information is available regarding the association between FSCN1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk or prognosis of breast cancer. We report on the association between 6 SNPs of the FSCN1 gene (rs56156320, rs8772, rs3801004, rs2966447, rs852479 and rs1640233) and breast cancer susceptibility as well as clinical outcomes in 316 patients with breast cancer and in 222 healthy controls. Carriers of the AC or AC + CC allele of the variant rs56156320 were at greater risk of breast cancer compared with wild-type (AA) carriers. Moreover, carriers of at least one G allele in rs3801004 were likely to progress to stage III/IV disease and lymph node metastasis. Individuals with at least one T allele at FSCN1 SNP rs2966447 were at higher risk of developing pathologic grade G3 disease. Furthermore, individuals bearing the C/C haplotype at SNPs rs56156320 and rs3801004 had nearly twice the risk of breast cancer. Our results indicate that genetic variations in the FSCN1 gene may serve as an important predictor of early-stage breast cancer.

Highlights

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide
In both patients and controls, most of those with the rs56156320 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the rs2966447 SNP, or the rs852479 SNP were homozygous for the AA genotype, while most of those with the rs8772 SNP, the rs3801004 SNP, or the rs1640233 SNP were homozygous for CC (Table 2)
FSCN1 is widely expressed in the developing nervous system, whereas in normal adult tissue, FSCN1 is highly restricted to antigen-presenting dendritic cells, endothelial cells, glial cells and neurons[21]

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Fascin-1 (FSCN1) is an actin-binding protein found in mammalian cells, including endothelial, neuronal and mesenchymal cells. Any association between FSCN1 SNPs with breast cancer risk and prognosis remains to be clarified. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the role of 6 FSCN1 SNPs in breast cancer susceptibility and clinicopathological features in a cohort of Chinese Han individuals.

Results

Conclusion