Neuropilin-1 Associated Molecules in the Blood Distinguish Poor Prognosis Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 12;7(1):3301. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03280-0.

Abstract

Circulating plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMCs) cells provide an informative snapshot of the systemic physiological state. Moreover, they provide a non-invasively accessible compartment to identify biomarkers for personalized medicine in advanced breast cancer. The role of Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and its interacting molecules in breast tumor tissue was correlated with cancer progression; however, the clinical impact of their systemic levels was not extensively evaluated. In this cross-sectional study, we found that circulating and tumor tissue expression of NRP-1 and circulating placental growth factor (PlGF) increase in advanced nodal and metastatic breast cancer compared with locally advanced disease. Tumor tissue expression of NRP-1 and PlGF is also upregulated in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) compared to other subtypes. Conversely, in PBMCs, NRP-1 and its interacting molecules SEMA4A and SNAI1 are significantly downregulated in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls, indicating a protective role. Moreover, we report differential PBMC expression profiles that correlate inversely with disease stage (SEMA4A, SNAI1, PLXNA1 and VEGFR3) and can differentiate between the TNBC and non-TNBC tumor subtypes (VEGFR3 and PLXNA1). This work supports the importance of NRP-1-associated molecules in circulation to characterize poor prognosis breast cancer and emphasizes on their role as favorable drug targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuropilin-1 / blood*
  • Placenta Growth Factor / blood
  • Prognosis
  • Tumor Burden
  • Up-Regulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • PGF protein, human
  • Placenta Growth Factor
  • Neuropilin-1