Prognostic value of vitamin D receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer
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Published on: May 17, 2019
Martina Soljic1, Ivana Mrklic2, Snjezana Tomic2
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aim:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterised by shorter overall survival and an early peak of distant recurrences with still no specific targeted treatment available. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR) have recently been described as potential new targets for anticancer therapy, yet their roles in TNBCs are still to be explored. In this study we investigated VDR and IGFR expression in patients with TNBC and compared them with clinical and pathological parameters and survival to possibly demonstrate their prognostic and therapeutic relevance.
Methods:
The study included 96 patients with TNBC. Clinical and pathological parameters were compared with the immunohistochemical expression of VDR and IGFR.
Results:
Positive VDR immunostaining was present in 27% of tumours and inversely correlated with higher mitotic score, histological grade and higher proliferation index measured by Ki-67 and related to the increased overall survival (OS). Out of 96 patients with TNBC, 35.5% of tumours were IGFR positive and correlated with higher mitotic score and Ki-67, and strongly correlated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS). Patients with VDR-negative and IGF-positive tumours had significantly lower DFS and OS.
Conclusion:
Approximately one third of TNBCs express VDR and/or IGFR. Their expression is linked with the recurrence of the disease and survival, which make them possible targets for treatment and a prognostic tool for dividing TNBCs into more homogeneous subgroups.
Insights
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR) expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) correlates with patient survival. VDR positivity is linked to better outcomes, while IGFR positivity is associated with poorer disease-free survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to poor prognosis and lack of targeted therapies.
- Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR) are emerging as potential therapeutic targets in various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of VDR and IGFR in TNBC patients.
- To correlate VDR and IGFR expression with clinical-pathological parameters and patient survival.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of VDR and IGFR expression in 96 TNBC patient tumor samples.
- Comparison of receptor expression with clinical data, including mitotic score, histological grade, Ki-67 proliferation index, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).
Main Results:
- VDR expression was observed in 27% of TNBCs, inversely correlating with higher tumor grade and proliferation, and associated with improved OS.
- IGFR expression was found in 35.5% of TNBCs, correlating with higher proliferation and poorer DFS.
- Patients with VDR-negative and IGFR-positive tumors exhibited significantly reduced DFS and OS.
Conclusions:
- VDR and IGFR are expressed in a subset of TNBCs and are associated with disease recurrence and survival outcomes.
- These receptors may serve as prognostic markers for stratifying TNBC patients into distinct risk groups.
- Targeting VDR and IGFR presents a potential therapeutic strategy for TNBC management.
