Abstract
BackgroundBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. However, the well-known biomarkers are not enough to meet the needs of precision medicine. Novel targets are desirable and highly valuable for improved patient survival. In this regard, we identified complement component C7 as one of the candidates based on data from the OCOMINE database.MethodsC7 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 331 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 45 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 52 cases of non-neoplastic tissues adjacent to tumor. Then, C7 expression was further confirmed by Western blot analysis based on IDC specimens and non-neoplastic breast specimens. The relationship between the C7 expression and prognosis of breast cancer patients was analyzed in order to investigate the function of C7 in breast cancer patients. Meanwhile, we also analyzed the relationship between the C7 expression and prognosis of 149 patients treated with conventional TE (taxane and anthracycline)-based chemotherapy. Then, a cohort of patients (22 cases) treated with TE neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used to further confirm the relationship between the C7 expression and TE-based chemosensitivity.ResultsIn our present study, we reported for the first time that C7 was an independent prognostic factor of breast cancer and C7 expression of IDC tissues was higher than non-neoplastic tissues adjacent to tumor and DCIS. In a cohort of 331 IDC patients, high expression of C7 indicated poor prognosis especially in the triple negative subtype and luminal B subtype. Furthermore, C7 was also a promoting factor for triple negative subtype patients to develop bone metastasis. Meanwhile, we provided the first evidence that patients with high C7 expression were insensitive to TE (taxane and anthracycline)-based chemotherapy by analyzing a cohort of 149 patients treated with TE-based chemotherapy and another cohort of 22 patients treated with TE neoadjuvant chemotherapy.ConclusionsIn summary, high expression of C7 may promote breast cancer development and might be insensitive to TE-based chemotherapy. Our present study laid a foundation to help clinicians improve the identification of patients for TE-based chemotherapy by C7 in the era of precision medicine.
Highlights
The incidence and mortality of breast cancer continue to increase and has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2020 [1,2,3]
We reported for the first time that patients with high component 7 (C7) expression were insensitive to taxane and anthracycline (TE)-based chemotherapy using a cohort of 149 patients treated with TE-based chemotherapy and another cohort of 22 patients treated with TE neoadjuvant chemotherapy
The immunostaining of C7 was high in tumor cells but much weaker in non-neoplasm in the same section (Figure 1C), which was further confirmed by Western blot analysis based on frozen invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) specimens and non-neoplastic breast specimens (Figure 1D)
Summary
The incidence and mortality of breast cancer continue to increase and has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2020 [1,2,3]. Novel targets are desirable and highly valuable for improved patient survival [4] In this regard, we identified complement component C7 as one of the candidates based on data from the ONCOMINE database. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Novel targets are desirable and highly valuable for improved patient survival. In this regard, we identified complement component C7 as one of the candidates based on data from the OCOMINE database
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