Abstract P6-05-11: Prognostic value of androgen receptor and cathepsin D co-expression in non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and correlation with other biomarkers

Background: In the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) group, the luminal androgen receptor subtype is characterized by expression of androgen receptor (AR) and lack of estrogen receptor and cytokeratin 5/6 expression. Cathepsin D (Cath-D) is overproduced and hypersecreted by breast cancer (BC) cells and is a poor prognostic marker. We recently showed that in TNBC, Cath-D is a potential target for antibody-based therapy. This study evaluated the frequency of AR/Cath-D co-expression and its prognostic value in a large series of patients with non-metastatic TNBC. Methods: AR and Cath-D expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 147 non-metastatic TNBC. The threshold for AR positivity (AR+) was set at ≥1% of stained cells, and the threshold for Cath-D positivity (Cath-D+) was moderate/strong staining intensity. Lymphocyte density, macrophage infiltration, PD-L1 and programmed cell death (PD-1) expression were assessed. Results: Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade 1–2 and lymph node invasion were more frequent, while macrophage infiltration was less frequent in AR+/Cath-D+ tumors (62.7%). In multivariate analyses, higher tumor size, no adjuvant chemotherapy and AR/Cath-D co-expression were independent prognostic factors of worse overall survival. Conclusions: AR/Cath-D co-expression independently predicted overall survival. Patients with TNBC in which AR and Cath-D are co-expressed could be eligible for combinatory therapy with androgen antagonists and anti-Cath-D human antibodies.

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Prognostic Value of Androgen Receptor in Triple Negative Breast Cancer of Iranian Patients in Yazd Region

Archives of Breast Cancer ◽

10.32768/abc.202074164-167 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 164-167

Author(s):

Fatemeh Alsadat Nobakht ◽

Mansour Moghimi

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Lymph Node ◽

Androgen Receptor ◽

High Risk ◽

Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽

Prognostic Value ◽

Triple Negative ◽

Tumor Location ◽

Lymph Node Status ◽

Ki 67

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease group with a higher recurrence risk and poorer prognosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency and prognostic value of androgen receptor (AR) expression in tissues of TNBC patients.Methods: In this study a total of 60 TNBC patients treated between 2011 - 2016 in Shahid Sadoughi and Mortaz Hospital were included and their medical records were analyze. The available paraffin blocks were assessed immunohistochemically to determine AR expression. Tumors with ?10% nuclear staining were considered AR-positive, while the ones with <10% staining were considered AR-negative. The association between AR expression, and clinical-pathologic characteristics and prognosis in TNBC was analyzed. Results: The result showed that AR expression in TBNC correlated with high risk of recurrence but no significant correlation with the age, grade, tumor size, lymph node status, type of diagnosis, tumor location, and Ki-67 level was observed. Positive immunoreactivity for AR was observed in 19 out of 60 (11%) specimens. No correlation was observed between the AR expression and the age, grade, tumor size, lymph node status, type of diagnosis, tumor location, and Ki-67 level. The AR-positive patients exhibited high risk of recurrence (P=0.016) and death (P=0.015) in comparison with the AR-negative patients. Concusions: AR may not be a suitable biomarker and treatment target for the Iranian Yazd patients with TNBC.

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