Expression of CDK13 Was Associated with Prognosis and Expression of HIF-1α and beclin1 in Breast Cancer Patients

To investigate role and clinical significance of CDK13 in breast cancer patients.

A total of 189 cases of breast cancer were enrolled during March 2013 to March 2015. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used for measurement of CDK13, HIF-1α and beclin1. Clinical characteristics of age, BMI, TNM stage, pathological types, and tumor diameter, were recorded. Patients' 5-year overall survival and recurrence were followed up. All patients were followed up for 5 years or to the last follow-up.

The expression levels of CDK13 and HIF-1αin breast cancer tissues were up-regulated and beclin1 was down-regulated than in the paracancerous non-tumor tissues. CDK13 was positively correlated with HIF-1α and negatively correlated with beclin1 in breast cancer tissues. The patients with higher expression of CDK13 showed significantly higher rates of TNM III-IV, higher rates of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and larger tumor size. The mortality and recurrence rates were higher in high expression CDK13 patients than in low CDK13 expression patients, however with no significant difference. K-M curve showed patients with higher CDK13 showed lower 5-year overall survival and lower disease-free survival time, however with no significant difference.

CDK13 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissues, and patients with higher CDK13 had poorer clinical outcomes. Further studies are still needed to reveal the clinical significance of CDK13 in breast cancer.