Prognostic Value of Vimentin in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients Depends on Chemotherapy Regimen and p53 Mutant Expression

Purpose

To determine the prognostic value of vimentin in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, specifically in relation to chemotherapy regimen and p53 mutant expression.

Patient and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the association of pre-treatment tumor expression of vimentin with 48-month overall survival (OS) of 72 all stages TNBC patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 in relation to chemotherapy regimen and expression of p53 mutant. Vimentin and p53 mutant expressions were examined using immunohistochemistry. Analysis was conducted on all patients collectively, then repeated on two cohorts divided according to the chemotherapy regimen. Sub-analysis was performed to determine the effect of p53 mutant expression on the prognostic value of vimentin.

Results

Vimentin was expressed in 43.1% of patients and was not associated with clinicopathologic characteristics. Vimentin was associated with improved 48-month OS in all patients in univariate analysis but not significant in multivariate analysis. When analyzed according to chemotherapy regimen, vimentin was independently associated with improved 48-month OS in patients receiving non-platinum-based chemotherapy (80% vs 15.8%; HR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.05-0.58, p: 0.005). Other independent prognostic factors include T (HR: 6.18, 95% CI: 1.38-27.7, p: 0.017) and M (HR: 5.64, 95% CI: 1.2-26.33, p: 0.028). On subanalysis, vimentin was significantly associated with improved 48-month OS in patients expressing p53 mutant (69.2% vs 22.2%, p: 0.006) but was not significant in patients not expressing p53 mutant.

Conclusion

Vimentin expression was independently associated with improved 48-month OS in TNBC patients treated with non-platinum-based chemotherapy. Expression of p53 mutant significantly affected the prognostic value of vimentin.