Intrinsic subtype-associated changes in the plasma proteome in breast cancer

Breast cancers are classified into five intrinsic subtypes: Luminal subtype A, Luminal subtype B, HER2+, Basal, and Normal-like. In this study, we compared the plasma proteome of patients with Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Basal subtype with plasma from healthy individuals. Protein changes were considered significant if q-value (false discovery rate) was less than 5%. The highest number of changes in the plasma proteome was observed in patients with Luminal type B followed by Basal type breast cancers. The plasma proteome of Luminal A and HER2+ breast cancer patients did not differ significantly from healthy individuals. In Basal breast cancer, a significant number of plasma proteins were downregulated compared with healthy individuals. Acute phase-response proteins α-glycoprotein orosomucoid 1 and serum amyloid protein P were specifically upregulated in the plasma of Luminal B breast cancer patients, suggesting prevalence of low-grade inflammation. Proteins involved in immune response and free radical scavenging were downregulated in the plasma of Luminal B patients, which is in agreement with defective immune system observed in cancer patients. These results reveal intrinsic subtype specific changes in the plasma proteome that may influence tumor progression as well as the systemic effects of cancer.