Plasma Levels of Decorin Increased in Patients during the Progression of Breast Cancer.

Tokuko Hosoya,Iichiroh Onishi,Toshiaki Ishikawa,Hiroyuki Uetake,Tadashi Hosoya,Megumi Ishiguro,Goshi Oda,Tsuyoshi Nakagawa

doi:10.3390/jcm10235530

Tokuko Hosoya, Iichiroh Onishi + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10235530

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Abstract

Decorin (DCN), an extracellular matrix proteoglycan found in tumor surrounding tissues, is a natural inhibitor of tumor cell proliferation and invasion. We conducted a cross-sectional observation study to evaluate the association of the pathological stage with the levels of DCN in plasma or tumor surrounding tissue. Among 118 patients who underwent breast surgery, 35 were designated as carcinoma in situ (Stage 0), 39 were Stage I, and 44 were Stage II or III. The stromal expression of DCN was quantified using a semiquantitative digital image analysis after immunohistochemical staining. The concentration of DCN was evaluated with a specific ELISA. As we have previously shown, stromal DCN expression was attenuated in the patients with Stage I, whereas stromal and plasma DCN was elevated paradoxically in those with Stage II/III. The elevated plasma DCN is an independent predictive factor of Stage II/III by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The plasma level of DCN was negatively correlated with stromal DCN expression only in patients with advanced disease (Stage II/III). The plasma level of DCN could become a useful biomarker for patients in the advanced stages. Extensive studies and further assessments are warranted for evaluating the prognostic significance and tumor characteristics to understand the clinical significances of stromal and systemic DCN.

Highlights

Decorin (DCN) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) that is synthesized primarily by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts [1]
We previously discovered that stromal DCN expression was significantly lower in the tumor-surrounding tissues of patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC) than in those with benign tumors or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) [4]
In cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), proteoglycan synthesis shifted from DCN to versican, biglycan, and type I collagen, resulting in tumor-supportive extracellular matrix (ECM) formation, which allowed the spreading of the tumor [13]

Summary

Introduction

Decorin (DCN) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) that is synthesized primarily by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts [1]. It is a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides structural support to cells and has a role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and wound healing. Its expression was attenuated in the invasive components rather than the DCIS components, even in the same subject. These findings suggested the possibility that the downregulation of stromal DCN expression may be involved in breast cancer progression

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