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Molecular subtype and tumor characteristics of breast cancer metastases as assessed by gene expression significantly influence patient post-relapse survival

Tobin, N. P. ; Harrell, J. C. ; Lovrot, J. ; Egyhazi Brage, S. ; Frostvik Stolt, M. ; Carlsson, L. ; Einbeigi, Z. ; Linderholm, B. ; Loman, Niklas LU and Malmberg, Martin LU , et al. (2015) In Annals of Oncology 26(1). p.81-88
Abstract
We and others have recently shown that tumor characteristics are altered throughout tumor progression. These findings emphasize the need for re-examination of tumor characteristics at relapse and have led to recommendations from ESMO and the Swedish Breast Cancer group. Here, we aim to determine whether tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes in breast cancer metastases confer clinically relevant prognostic information for patients. The translational aspect of the Swedish multicenter randomized trial called TEX included 111 patients with at least one biopsy from a morphologically confirmed locoregional or distant breast cancer metastasis diagnosed from December 2002 until June 2007. All patients had detailed clinical information,... (More)
We and others have recently shown that tumor characteristics are altered throughout tumor progression. These findings emphasize the need for re-examination of tumor characteristics at relapse and have led to recommendations from ESMO and the Swedish Breast Cancer group. Here, we aim to determine whether tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes in breast cancer metastases confer clinically relevant prognostic information for patients. The translational aspect of the Swedish multicenter randomized trial called TEX included 111 patients with at least one biopsy from a morphologically confirmed locoregional or distant breast cancer metastasis diagnosed from December 2002 until June 2007. All patients had detailed clinical information, complete follow-up, and metastasis gene expression information (Affymetrix array GPL10379). We assessed the previously published gene expression modules describing biological processes [proliferation, apoptosis, human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) and estrogen (ER) signaling, tumor invasion, immune response, and angiogenesis] and pathways (Ras, MAPK, PTEN, AKT-MTOR, PI3KCA, IGF1, Src, Myc, E2F3, and beta-catenin) and the intrinsic subtypes (PAM50). Furthermore, by contrasting genes expressed in the metastases in relation to survival, we derived a poor metastasis survival signature. A significant reduction in post-relapse breast cancer-specific survival was associated with low-ER receptor signaling and apoptosis gene module scores, and high AKT-MTOR, Ras, and beta-catenin module scores. Similarly, intrinsic subtyping of the metastases provided statistically significant post-relapse survival information with the worst survival outcome in the basal-like [hazard ratio (HR) 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-10.9] and HER2-enriched (HR 4.4; 95% CI 1.5-12.8) subtypes compared with the luminal A subtype. Overall, 25% of the metastases were basal-like, 32% HER2-enriched, 10% luminal A, 28% luminal B, and 5% normal-like. We show that tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes of breast cancer metastases significantly influence post-relapse patient survival, emphasizing that molecular investigations at relapse provide prognostic and clinically relevant information. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
breast cancer metastases, metastasis characteristics, TEX randomized, trial, gene expression, gene modules, biopsy at relapse
in
Annals of Oncology
volume
26
issue
1
pages
81 - 88
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000347416300013
  • scopus:84922561724
  • pmid:25361981
ISSN
1569-8041
DOI
10.1093/annonc/mdu498
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
301d1203-2b14-41c8-9f85-82294fbd2e4d (old id 5069896)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:36:59
date last changed
2022-03-21 19:30:32
@article{301d1203-2b14-41c8-9f85-82294fbd2e4d,
  abstract     = {{We and others have recently shown that tumor characteristics are altered throughout tumor progression. These findings emphasize the need for re-examination of tumor characteristics at relapse and have led to recommendations from ESMO and the Swedish Breast Cancer group. Here, we aim to determine whether tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes in breast cancer metastases confer clinically relevant prognostic information for patients. The translational aspect of the Swedish multicenter randomized trial called TEX included 111 patients with at least one biopsy from a morphologically confirmed locoregional or distant breast cancer metastasis diagnosed from December 2002 until June 2007. All patients had detailed clinical information, complete follow-up, and metastasis gene expression information (Affymetrix array GPL10379). We assessed the previously published gene expression modules describing biological processes [proliferation, apoptosis, human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) and estrogen (ER) signaling, tumor invasion, immune response, and angiogenesis] and pathways (Ras, MAPK, PTEN, AKT-MTOR, PI3KCA, IGF1, Src, Myc, E2F3, and beta-catenin) and the intrinsic subtypes (PAM50). Furthermore, by contrasting genes expressed in the metastases in relation to survival, we derived a poor metastasis survival signature. A significant reduction in post-relapse breast cancer-specific survival was associated with low-ER receptor signaling and apoptosis gene module scores, and high AKT-MTOR, Ras, and beta-catenin module scores. Similarly, intrinsic subtyping of the metastases provided statistically significant post-relapse survival information with the worst survival outcome in the basal-like [hazard ratio (HR) 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-10.9] and HER2-enriched (HR 4.4; 95% CI 1.5-12.8) subtypes compared with the luminal A subtype. Overall, 25% of the metastases were basal-like, 32% HER2-enriched, 10% luminal A, 28% luminal B, and 5% normal-like. We show that tumor characteristics and molecular subtypes of breast cancer metastases significantly influence post-relapse patient survival, emphasizing that molecular investigations at relapse provide prognostic and clinically relevant information.}},
  author       = {{Tobin, N. P. and Harrell, J. C. and Lovrot, J. and Egyhazi Brage, S. and Frostvik Stolt, M. and Carlsson, L. and Einbeigi, Z. and Linderholm, B. and Loman, Niklas and Malmberg, Martin and Walz, T. and Fernö, Mårten and Perou, C. M. and Bergh, J. and Hatschek, T. and Lindstrom, L. S.}},
  issn         = {{1569-8041}},
  keywords     = {{breast cancer metastases; metastasis characteristics; TEX randomized; trial; gene expression; gene modules; biopsy at relapse}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{81--88}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Annals of Oncology}},
  title        = {{Molecular subtype and tumor characteristics of breast cancer metastases as assessed by gene expression significantly influence patient post-relapse survival}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3478555/7761655}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/annonc/mdu498}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}