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Lundgren C, Tutzauer J, Church SE, Stål O, Ekholm M, Forsare C, Nordenskjöld B, Fernö M, Bendahl PO, Rydén L. Tamoxifen-predictive value of gene expression signatures in premenopausal breast cancer: data from the randomized SBII:2 trial. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:110. [PMID: 37773134 PMCID: PMC10540453 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01719-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression (GEX) signatures in breast cancer provide prognostic information, but little is known about their predictive value for tamoxifen treatment. We examined the tamoxifen-predictive value and prognostic effects of different GEX signatures in premenopausal women with early breast cancer. METHODS RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from premenopausal women randomized between two years of tamoxifen treatment and no systemic treatment was extracted and successfully subjected to GEX profiling (n = 437, NanoString Breast Cancer 360™ panel). The median follow-up periods for a recurrence-free interval (RFi) and overall survival (OS) were 28 and 33 years, respectively. Associations between GEX signatures and tamoxifen effect were assessed in patients with estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+ /HER2-) tumors using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression. The prognostic effects of GEX signatures were studied in the entire cohort. False discovery rate adjustments (q-values) were applied to account for multiple hypothesis testing. RESULTS In patients with ER+/HER2- tumors, FOXA1 expression below the median was associated with an improved effect of tamoxifen after 10 years with regard to RFi (hazard ratio [HR]FOXA1(high) = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.61-1.76, HRFOXA1(low) = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.14-0.67, qinteraction = 0.0013), and a resembling trend was observed for AR (HRAR(high) = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.60-2.20, HRAR(low) = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24-0.75, qinteraction = 0.87). Similar patterns were observed for OS. Tamoxifen was in the same subgroup most beneficial for RFi in patients with low ESR1 expression (HRRFi ESR1(high) = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.43-1.35, HRRFi, ESR1(low) = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.29-1.06, qinteraction = 0.37). Irrespective of molecular subtype, higher levels of ESR1, Mast cells, and PGR on a continuous scale were correlated with improved 10 years RFi (HRESR1 = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.69-0.92, q = 0.005; HRMast cells = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.65-0.85, q < 0.0001; and HRPGR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68-0.89, q = 0.002). For BC proliferation and Hypoxia, higher scores associated with worse outcomes (HRBCproliferation = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.33-1.79, q < 0.0001; HRHypoxia = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.20-1.58, q < 0.0001). The results were similar for OS. CONCLUSIONS Expression of FOXA1 is a promising predictive biomarker for tamoxifen effect in ER+/HER2- premenopausal breast cancer. In addition, each of the signatures BC proliferation, Hypoxia, Mast cells, and the GEX of AR, ESR1, and PGR had prognostic value, also after adjusting for established prognostic factors. Trial registration This trial was retrospectively registered in the ISRCTN database the 6th of December 2019, trial ID: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ISRCTN12474687 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lundgren
- Department of Oncology, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Medicon Village, Building 404, 223 81, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Julia Tutzauer
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Medicon Village, Building 404, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Olle Stål
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Ekholm
- Department of Oncology, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carina Forsare
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Medicon Village, Building 404, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Nordenskjöld
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fernö
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Medicon Village, Building 404, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pär-Ola Bendahl
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Medicon Village, Building 404, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lisa Rydén
- Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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FOXA1 in Breast Cancer: A Luminal Marker with Promising Prognostic and Predictive Impact. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194699. [PMID: 36230619 PMCID: PMC9564251 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review focuses on the function of the forkhead protein FOXA1 in breast cancer (BC) in relation to steroid hormone receptors. We explored the currently available analytic approaches for FOXA1 assessment both at gene and protein levels, comparing the differences between the available techniques used for its diagnostic assessment. In addition, we elaborated on data regarding the prognostic and predictive role of this marker in BC based on several studies that evaluated its expression in relation to the outcome and/or response to therapy. FOXA1, similar to the androgen receptor (AR), may have a dual role in BC according to hormonal status. In luminal cancers, its expression contributes to a better prognosis, while in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), it implies an adverse outcome. Consequently, we observed that FOXA1-positive expression in a neoadjuvant setting may predict a lack of response in luminal BC as opposed to TNBC, in which FOXA1 allegedly increases its chemosensitivity. In conclusion, considering its accessible and convenient identification by immunohistochemistry, its important impact on prognosis, and its suitability to identify patients with different responses to chemotherapy, we propose that FOXA1 could be tested in routine diagnostics as an additional prognostic and predictive marker in BC.
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