Use of tumoral LDH to predict residual tumor burden after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Abstract

e12566 Background: The Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) score has been validated as an independent prognostic factor in all subtype of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Early prediction of NAC response enable better stratification for selecting chemotherapy. Glucose metabolism in cancer cells produces various glycolytic metabolites which are related to breast cancer prognosis. In this study, we evaluated the association of glucose transporters and enzymes involved in glucose metabolism with clinic-pathological factors for early prediction of NAC response. Methods: RCB scores were retrospectively evaluated from patients with stage I-III breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We selected 7 target transporters and enzymes [GLUT1, hexokinase 2 (HK2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), MCT1, MCT4, IGF1RA, and IGF1RB] involved in glucose metabolism and evaluated in relationships with pretreatment clinical/pathological characteristics and treatment outcomes including RCB. Results: 236 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC followed by surgery between 2010 and 2016 in Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital were included. Among them, 145 (61.4%), 44 (18.6%), and 47 (19.9%) were luminal, HER2-enriched, and TNBC subtypes. RCB 0 was determined 50 (21.2%), 35 (14.8%) RCB I, 91 (38.6%) RCB II and 60 (25.4%) RCB III. After a median follow-up of 98 months, 60 (25.4%) relapses, 43 (18.2%) distant relapses, and 34 (14.4%) deaths were observed. RCB score was significantly associated with disease specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). RCB III were significantly increased risk of relapse (HR=13.517, CI [1.809-101.010], P<0.001). The tumoral expression rates of the target molecules were 76.0, 31.1, 42.1, 54.9, 67.9, 78.4, and 49.8% for GLUT1, HK2, LDH, MCT1, MCT4, IGF1RA, and IGF1RB, respectively. Among them, LDH was significantly associated with RCB III (OR=4.533, P=0.014) and worse disease specific survival (HR=2.29 P=0.019). Conclusions: Tumoral expression of LDH could be considered as an independent biomarker in predicting high risk of relapse (RBC III) and survival in all subtype of breast cancer.