Correlation of Beta2-Glycoprotein I With Tumor Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background/aim: Beta2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) is a plasma glycoprotein, which has been implicated in a variety of physiological functions. However, the connection between β2-GPI and breast cancer is mostly unknown. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that severely impairs women's health worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of β2-GPI in tumor cells of breast cancer patients and its correlation with tumor prognosis.

Materials and methods: A total of 125 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer were enrolled in the study. The expression of β2-GPI in resected breast tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlated with clinicopathological variables by the Chi-squared test. The prognostic value of β2-GPI for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was determined by Kaplan-Meier estimates and the significance of differences was evaluated by the log-rank test.

Results: β2-GPI staining was predominantly observed in tumor cells of breast cancer patients and significantly correlated with tumor stage and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer. High β2-GPI expression was significantly correlated with better OS and DFS. Moreover, DFS was found to be significantly better in patients with higher β2-GPI expression, especially those in the early tumor stage groups.

Conclusion: High β2-GPI expression levels in tumor cells of breast cancer patients were independent factors predicting a better OS and DFS. β2-GPI activation in high-risk patients may be a potential strategy for reducing breast cancer progression.

Keywords: breast cancer; disease-free survival; overall survival; tumor prognosis; β2-GPI.