Expression of semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) in breast cancer subtypes

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major health concern, and its accurate diagnosis and management depend on identifying its histological type and biological subtype. Semaphorin-3A (SEMA3A) is a membrane protein with diverse roles in cellular processes, including cancer progression and angiogenesis regulation. However, its role in breast cancer remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate SEMA3A expression in breast cancer and investigate its distribution across breast cancer subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Immunohistochemical evaluation was performed on 98 breast cancer patients' tumor specimens, and SEMA3A expression was assessed in tumor cells and vessels. The study included the analysis of the Ki67 proliferation index, estrogen receptor (ER) expression, progesterone receptor (PR) expression, and HER2 status in conjunction with SEMA3A expression. Analysis indicated positive expression of SEMA3A in breast cancer cells in 60 out of 98 cases. SEMA3A expression correlated positively with Ki67 levels in tumor cells (p = 0.0005, R Spearman 0.338). Notably, a negative correlation was found between SEMA3A expression and ER and PR levels in tumor cells (p = 0.04, Spearman's R = - 0.21 and p = 0.016, Spearman's R = - 0.25 respectively). HER2 status did not significantly influence SEMA3A expression. The study demonstrated positive SEMA3A expression in tumor vessels across all subtypes in 91 out of 98 cases, suggesting its involvement in endothelial cell function. However, no significant differences in SEMA3A expression were observed between breast cancer subtypes either in vessels or tumor cells. These findings suggest that elevated SEMA3A expression may be associated with worse prognosis in breast cancer, especially in ER- and PR-negative tumors. Further investigations are warranted to fully comprehend the role of SEMA3A in breast cancer biology, which may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and personalized treatment strategies for breast cancer patients.