Prognostic Impact of UBA1 Expression in Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Established prognostic markers improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1 (UBA1) is implicated in various cancers, but its role in breast cancer progression, especially across subtypes, is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic relevance of UBA1 protein expression in breast cancer patients.
• To analyze UBA1 expression in tumor cells and stroma across different breast cancer intrinsic subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from 413 chemotherapy-naïve invasive breast cancer patients.
• Employed immunohistochemistry for UBA1 and intrinsic subtype markers (ER, PgR, HER2, Ki-67) on tissue microarrays.
• Analyzed UBA1 expression in tumor cells and stroma using AI-assisted image analysis, correlating results with clinicopathological data.

Main Results:

• High UBA1 expression in both tumor and stromal compartments correlated with reduced overall survival (OS).
• Elevated stromal UBA1 expression (cytoplasmic) was linked to poorer survival in luminal A and B subtypes.
• Increased nuclear UBA1 expression in tumor cells predicted worse outcomes in the luminal B subtype; UBA1 was an independent prognostic marker.

Conclusions:

• UBA1 protein expression holds significant prognostic value in breast cancer.
• UBA1 demonstrates potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for breast cancer.