Differential Site-Based Expression of Pentose Phosphate Pathway-Related Proteins among Breast Cancer Metastases

Dis Markers. 2017:2017:7062517. doi: 10.1155/2017/7062517. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Abstract

Purpose. We aimed to investigate the expression of pentose phosphate pathway- (PPP-) related proteins in metastatic breast cancer and its relationship with clinicopathologic factors. Methods. Tissue samples from 126 metastatic breast cancers were included in a tissue microarray. Expression of PPP-related proteins [glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2)] was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results. G6PDH (p = 0.011) and cytoplasmic NRF2 (p = 0.001) showed the highest expression in brain metastases. Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) positivity was associated with G6PDH (p < 0.001) and cytoplasmic NRF2 (p = 0.015) positivity. A high Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was correlated with nuclear NRF2 positivity (p = 0.037), and HER-2-positive luminal B type was associated with G6PDH positivity (p = 0.001). On multivariate Cox analysis, independent risk factors of short overall survival were 6PGL positivity in bone metastasis (HR 4.180, 95% CI 1.160-15.06, p = 0.029) and low Ki-67 LI in lung metastasis (HR 11.853, 95% CI 1.841-76.30, p = 0.009). Conclusion. Differential expression of PPP-related proteins correlated with different prognoses and metastatic sites, with the highest expression in brain metastases, and could be a potential therapeutic target.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway*
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Risk Factors
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • 6-phosphogluconolactonase