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Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
Hemoglobin overexpression and splice signature as new features of inflammatory breast cancer?
F Lerebours1, S Vacher2, J M Guinebretiere3
1Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Institut Curie-Hôpital René Huguenin, Saint-Cloud, France.
Introduction:
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast carcinoma characterized by rapid onset of inflammatory signs and its molecular fingerprint has not yet been elucidated.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to detect both gene expression levels and alternate RNA splice variants specific for IBC.
Methods:
W e performed splice-sensitive array profiling using Affymetrix Exon Array and quantitative RT-PCR analyses in 177 IBC compared to 183 non-IBC. We also assessed the prognostic value of the identified candidate genes and splice variants.
Results:
A 5-splice signature (HSPA8, RPL10, RPL4, DIDO1 and EVL) was able to distinguish IBC from non-IBC tumors (p<10-7). This splice signature was associated with poor metastasis-free survival in hormone receptor-negative non-IBC (p=0.02), but had no prognostic value in IBC. PAM analysis of dysregulated genes in IBC compared to non-IBC identified a 10-gene signature highly predictive of IBC phenotype and conferring a poor prognosis in non-IBC. The genes most commonly upregulated in IBC were 3 hemoglobin genes able to reliably discriminate IBC from non-IBC (p<10-4). Hb protein expression in epithelial breast tumor cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion:
IBC has a specific spliced transcript profile and is characterized by hemoglobin gene overexpression that should be investigated in further functional studies.
