Abstract
Introduction
ALCAM (also known as CD166) is a membrane integral protein and said to have a role in predicting the clinical outcome of patients with breast cancer, but the pattern of the prediction value is inconsistent. ALCAM confers cell-cell adhesion via heterotypic and homotypic interactions and linked to cytoskeleton via the ERM protein family (Ezrin, Moesin, Radixin and EHM2), particularly ezrin. The present study explored if the ALCAM and its ERM linkers may assist in refining the prognostic value of ALCAM.
Method
Gene transcripts of ACLAM and the ERM family members were quantitatively analysed in an existing breast cancer cohort collected freshly after surgery. The relationship between ALCAM and patient’s survival (follow-up 10 years) were stratified by the ALCAM linkers. Statistical methods were Kaplan-Meier’s survival method, ROC and logistic regression.
Result
ALCAM significantly correlated with four ERM family members (P < 0.005). Patients with high levels of ALCAM transcripts had significantly long overall survival. Further stratification by the epithelial rich Ezrin and endothelial rich Moesin identified subgroup of patients with good prognosis. Multivariant analysis indicates that the combined power of ALCAM and ERM family serves as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.003) together with the other two factors, namely the Nottingham Prognostic Index and Nodal status (P = 0.02). A similar prediction power for disease free survival was seen with ALCAM and ERM combination.
Conclusion
ALCAM and its intracellular cytoskeletal linker molecules, the ERM family, together forms a significant prognostic factor to the clinical outcome of patients with breast cancer.
Take-home Message
ALCAM stratified by the ERM family have prognostic value in breast cancer
Comprehensive analysis of the prognostic value and immune function of chemokine-CXC receptor family members in breast cancer
