Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis
Published on: February 6, 2020
Predictive and prognostic value of ZEB1 protein expression in breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Ziping Wu1, Lei Zhang1, Shuguang Xu1
1Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China.
Background:
Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a molecule involved in the progression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various kinds of cancers. Here, we aimed to determine whether the expression of the ZEB1 protein is related to the response of patients to neoadjuvant therapy as well as their survival outcome.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor samples from core needle biopsy before neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations between the protein expression of ZEB1 and the pathological complete response (pCR) outcome. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests were used to compare disease-free survival (DFS) between groups. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidential interval (95% CI).
Results:
A total of 75 patients were included in the IHC test. High ZEB1 protein expression was associated with a low pCR rate in both univariate (OR = 0.260, 95% CI 0.082-0.829, p = 0.023) and multivariate (OR = 0.074, 95% CI 0.011-0.475, p = 0.006) logistic regression analyses. High ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with a short DFS according to both the log-rank test (p = 0.023) and Cox proportional hazard model (HR = 9.025, 95% CI 1.024-79.519, p = 0.048). In hormone receptor positive (HorR-positive) patients, high ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with a lower pCR (OR = 0.054, 95% CI 0.007-0.422, p = 0.005) and a poorer DFS (HR = 10.516, 95% CI 1.171-94.435, p = 0.036) compared with low ZEB1 protein expression. In HER2-overexpressing patients, ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with poor survival (p = 0.042).
Conclusions:
Our results showed that high ZEB1 protein expression was a negative predictive marker of pCR and DFS in neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients and in HorR-positive and HER2-overexpressing subgroups.Trial registration NCT, NCT02199418. Registered 24 July 2014-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02199418?term=NCT02199418&rank=1. NCT, NCT 02221999. Registered 21 August 2014-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02221999?term=NCT02221999&rank=1.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Prediction Intervals
However, the point estimate is most likely not the exact value of the population parameter, but close to it. After calculating point estimates, we construct interval estimates, called confidence intervals or prediction intervals. This prediction interval comprises a range of values unlike the point estimate and is a better predictor of the observed sample value, y.
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Patient-Related Factors
Age stands as a key determinant in protein-drug binding. Neonates, characterized by low albumin content, experience heightened concentrations of unbound drugs such as phenytoin and...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
What is Gene Expression?
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
End Point Prediction: Gran Plot
For potentiometric titration, the Gran plot is created by plotting...

