Abstract
BackgroundToll-like receptors (TLRs) have garnered an extraordinary amount of interest in cancer research due to their role in tumor progression. By activating the production of several biological factors, TLRs induce type I interferons and other cytokines, which drive an inflammatory response and activate the adaptive immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of TLR3, 4 and 9 in breast cancer.MethodsThe expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 were analyzed on tumors from 74 patients with breast cancer. The analysis was performed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsSamples of carcinomas with recurrence exhibited a significant increase in the mRNA levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9. Tumors showed high expression of TLRs expression levels by cancer cells, especially TLR4 and 9. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of tumors also showed TLR4 expression by mononuclear inflammatory cells (21.6%) and TLR9 expression by fibroblast-like cells (57.5%). Tumors with high TLR3 expression by tumor cell or with high TLR4 expression by mononuclear inflammatory cells were significantly associated with higher probability of metastasis. However, tumours with high TLR9 expression by fibroblast-like cells were associated with low probability of metastasis.ConclusionsThe expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 have clinical interest as indicators of tumor aggressiveness in breast cancer. TLRs may represent therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
Highlights
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have garnered an extraordinary amount of interest in cancer research due to their role in tumor progression
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 in breast cancer as well as its relation to distant metastasis
In the present study, we investigated the expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR9 in tumors from 74 women with ductal invasive breast cancer
Summary
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have garnered an extraordinary amount of interest in cancer research due to their role in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of TLR3, 4 and 9 in breast cancer. Breast cancer remains a major cause of death in women in the developed world. One in nine women will suffer from breast cancer during her life [1]. It is difficult to predict the occurrence of distant metastases since breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease encompassing complex pathologic entities. For all of these reasons, new prognostic factors are essential to improving the classic risk classification in breast cancer. It is well known that persistent inflammatory conditions can induce cancer formation
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