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Published on: October 11, 2019
High excision repair cross-complementation group 1 expression is associated with favorable prognostic factors in
Dong Hyun Kim1, Hyunjoo Lee1, Dong-Hoon Kim1
1Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Distortion of DNA can inhibit transcription and replication, resulting in cell death. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway recognizes and repairs DNA adducts. Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) is a nuclease that serves a vital role in the NER pathway. Few studies have investigated ERCC1 expression in breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between clinicopathological features and ERCC1 expression in breast cancer. ERCC1 expression was studied in 224 invasive ductal carcinomas by immunohistochemical staining. ERCC1 expression was analyzed as an immunoreactive score, and classified into low and high expression groups. The association between immunohistochemical parameters and clinicopathological features was evaluated. High expression of ERCC1 was observed in 33 cases (14.7%) and was statistically associated with lower T stage (P=0.005), lower tumor size (P=0.001), no lymph node metastasis (P=0.044) and no lymphovascular invasion (LVI; P=0.004). Additionally, high ERCC1 expression was associated with a positive estrogen receptor (ER) (P=0.006) and progesterone receptor (PR) (P=0.001) expression status. Non-triple-negative breast carcinoma occurred more frequently in the high expression group (97%) than the low expression group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.056). Overall and disease-free survival were also not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.989 and P=0.215, respectively). In conclusion, high ERCC1 expression is statistically associated with lower T stage, smaller tumor size, no lymph node metastasis, no LVI, and positive ER and PR expression. This suggests that ERCC1 is associated with favorable prognostic parameters in breast cancer.
Insights
High expression of Excision Repair Cross-Complementation group 1 (ERCC1) in breast cancer correlates with less advanced disease and hormone receptor positivity. This suggests ERCC1 may indicate a more favorable prognosis in breast cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- DNA damage can impede essential cellular processes like transcription and replication.
- The Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway is crucial for correcting DNA adducts.
- Excision Repair Cross-Complementation group 1 (ERCC1) is a key nuclease in the NER pathway, but its role in breast cancer is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between ERCC1 expression and clinicopathological features in breast cancer.
- To determine if ERCC1 expression levels correlate with prognostic indicators in invasive ductal carcinomas.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess ERCC1 expression in 224 invasive ductal carcinoma samples.
- ERCC1 expression was quantified using an immunoreactive score and categorized into low and high expression groups.
- Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate correlations between ERCC1 expression and various clinicopathological parameters.
Main Results:
- High ERCC1 expression was found in 14.7% of cases and was significantly linked to lower T stage, smaller tumor size, absence of lymph node metastasis, and no lymphovascular invasion (LVI).
- Elevated ERCC1 levels were also associated with positive estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression.
- While non-triple-negative breast cancer was more common in the high ERCC1 group, survival outcomes did not show significant differences.
Conclusions:
- High ERCC1 expression in breast cancer is associated with favorable prognostic indicators, including reduced tumor stage and size, and lack of metastasis.
- The positive correlation with ER and PR suggests ERCC1 may play a role in hormone-sensitive breast cancers.
- ERCC1 expression may serve as a potential biomarker for favorable prognostic parameters in breast cancer.
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