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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
Performing Data Mining And Integrative Analysis Of Biomarker in Breast Cancer Using Multiple Publicly Accessible Databases
Published on: May 17, 2019
Mediator complex (MED) 7: a biomarker associated with good prognosis in invasive breast cancer, especially ER+
Chitra Joseph1, Olivia Macnamara1, Madeleine Craze1
1Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK.
Background:
Mediator complex (MED) proteins have a key role in transcriptional regulation, some interacting with the oestrogen receptor (ER). Interrogation of the METABRIC cohort suggested that MED7 may regulate lymphovascular invasion (LVI). Thus MED7 expression was assessed in large breast cancer (BC) cohorts to determine clinicopathological significance.
Methods:
MED7 gene expression was investigated in the METABRIC cohort (n = 1980) and externally validated using bc-GenExMiner v4.0. Immunohistochemical expression was assessed in the Nottingham primary BC series (n = 1280). Associations with clinicopathological variables and patient outcome were evaluated.
Results:
High MED7 mRNA and protein expression was associated with good prognostic factors: low grade, smaller tumour size, good NPI, positive hormone receptor status (p < 0.001), and negative LVI (p = 0.04) status. Higher MED7 protein expression was associated with improved BC-specific survival within the whole cohort and ER+/luminal subgroup. Pooled MED7 gene expression data in the external validation cohort confirmed association with better survival, corroborating with the protein expression. On multivariate analysis, MED7 protein was independently predictive of longer BC-specific survival in the whole cohort and Luminal A subtype (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
MED7 is an important prognostic marker in BC, particularly in ER+luminal subtypes, associated with improved survival and warrants future functional analysis.
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