Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are characterized as having 200 nucleotides or more and not coding any protein, and several been identified as differentially expressed in several human malignancies, including breast cancer. Methods Here, we evaluated lncRNAs differentially expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from a cDNA microarray data set obtained in a previous study from our group. Using in silico analyses in combination with a review of the current literature, we identify three lncRNAs as potential prognostic factors for TNBC patients. Results We found that the expression of WDFY3-AS2, BDNF-AS, and AFAP1-AS1 was associated with poor survival in patients with TNBCs. WDFY3-AS2 and BDNF-AS are lncRNAs known to play an important role in tumor suppression of different types of cancer, while AFAP1-AS1 exerts oncogenic activity. Conclusion Our findings provided evidence that WDFY3-AS2, BDNF-AS, and AFAP1-AS1 may be potential prognostic factors in TNBC development.

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Aim: The PHLDA (pleckstrin homology like domain, family A) gene family encodes proteins capable of inhibiting AKT (serine/threonine kinase) signaling through phosphoinositol binding competition. Results & methodology: Using in silico analysis, we found that Luminal A and B patients' short relapse-free survival was associated with low PHLDA1 or PHLDA3 and high PHLDA2 expression. In a cohort of 393 patients with luminal breast cancer evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, we found a direct association of PHLDA3 expression with hormonal therapy response (p = 0.013). Conclusion: Our findings provide new information on the role played by the PHLDA family members as prognostic markers in breast cancer, and more importantly, we provide evidence that they might also predict a response to endocrine therapy.

O câncer de mama é uma doença que acomete mulheres em todo o mundo, sendo por isso um problema de saúde de preocupação global. Apesar dos avanços científicos e tecnológicos nas pesquisas básicas e nos estudos clínicos, o câncer de mama ainda apresenta inúmeras barreiras que necessitam ser transpostas, a fim de garantir melhor sobrevida às pacientes acometidas por essa doença. A atuação da ciência consiste não apenas em prever as melhores formas de tratamento, mas também de como evitar o aparecimento dos sintomas e, por consequência, do tumor. Artigos recentes discutem inúmeros fatores que podem contribuir para a iniciação e progressão tumoral. São considerados os hábitos sociais, como o ato de fumar, ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas, dietas que contribuam para a hiperlipidemia ou aumento da disponibilidade de moléculas antagonistas que agem sobre a célula de modo a construir um microambiente favorável à tumorigênese. Além disso, fatores ligados ao histórico familiar e predisposição hereditária são importantes, apesar de explicar uma parcela mínima dos casos. Com isso, o presente artigo tem por objetivo abordar sobre fatores de risco modificáveis e não modificáveis, relacionados com a progressão do câncer de mama. ABSTRACTBreast cancer is a disease that affects women worldwide, and therefore is a health problem of global concern. Despite scientific and technological advances in basic researches and in clinical studies, breast cancer still presents numerous obstacles that need to be overcome in order to ensure better survival for patients affected by this disease. Science's work is not only to predict the best methods of treatment, but also to prevent the onset of symptoms and, consequently, of the tumor. Recent articles discuss numerous factors which may contribute to tumor initiation and progression. They take into consideration social habits, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, diets that contribute to hyperlipidemia or increased availability of antagonist molecules that act on the cell in order to create a favorable microenvironment to tumorigenesis. In addition to that, factors related to family history and hereditary predisposition are important, even though they explain a minimal portion of cases. Thus, the purpose of this article is to address modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, related to breast cancer progression.

Breast cancer (BC) is the main cause of cancer-related deaths of the world's female population as well as, particularly the Brazilian women (1). The National Cancer Institute in Brazil (INCA) estimated 66,280 new BC cases in 2020, comprising 29.7% of all tumors with a stratified primary location; this estimate is much higher than that for the cancer of the colon and rectum (9.2% of all cases) and cervical cancer (7.4%) in women. BC tumors can be categorized into five main subtypes that have been widely discussed in the literature according to the PAM50 classification: Basal (B), Luminal A (LA), Luminal B (LB), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2+ (HER2+), and normal breast-like (N). Another important classification encompasses triple-negative (TN) and non-TN (nTN) breast tumors, which are identified based on the immunohistochemistry outcomes for the hormone estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), and by the amplification of the HER2 (2, 3). The lack of expression of these three important membrane receptors classify them as TN (4). Approximately 80% of all basal tumors can be classified as TN, with similar expression profiles between these two classes (5, 6).