Elevated levels of tumour apolipoprotein D independently predict poor outcome in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Aims: Apolipoprotein D (ApoD) is a protein that is regulated by androgen and oestrogen, and is a major constituent of breast cysts. Although ApoD has been reported to be a marker of breast cancer, its prognostic importance in invasive breast cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ApoD protein expression, oestrogen receptor-a (ERa) expression and androgen receptor (AR) expression in predicting breast cancer outcome. Methods and results: ApoD levels were measured by the use of immunohistochemistry and video image analysis on tissue sections from a breast cancer cohort (n = 214). We assessed the associations of ApoD expression with disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS). We also assessed the relationship between ApoD expression, AR expression and ERa expression in predicting OS. ApoD expression (>1% ApoD positivity) was found in 72% (154/214) of tissues. High ApoD positivity (≥20.7%, fourth quartile) was an independent predictor of MFS and OS, and conferred a 2.2fold increased risk of developing metastatic disease and a 2.1-fold increased risk of breast cancer-related death. ApoD positivity was not associated with AR or ERa nuclear positivity. However, patients with (≥1%) ERa-positive cancers with low (<20.7%) ApoD positivity, or those showing high (≥78%) AR positivity and low (<20.7%) ApoD positivity had better OS than other patient groups. Conclusions: ApoD expression could be used to predict breast cancer prognosis independently of ERa and AR expression.

Apolipoprotein D

“…A recent study performed on a cohort of patients diagnosed with invasive ductal breast carcinoma shows that ApoD could be an independent predictor of metastasis free survival and overall survival in invasive breast cancer. Increased ApoD expression was associated with poor patient outcome (Jankovic-Karasoulos et al, 2020), a result shared with another research team studying breast cancer outcomes in patients over the age of 70 (Soiland et al, 2009). It is important to note that patients in this last study were under tamoxifen therapy, a drug used to treat estrogen receptor-positive tumors (Harbeck et al, 2019).…”

Identification of the RP11-21C4.1/SVEP1 gene pair associated with FAT2 mutations as a potential biomarker in gastric cancer

“…In this study, we further analyzed the DEmRNAs associated with FAT2 mutations and constructed a 4-mRNA prognostic signature of GC (APOD, STK32A, SVEP1, NPTX1). Many studies have demonstrated that APOD expression is correlated with various tumors, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer, and is significantly associated with GC risk assessment [28][29][30]. STK32A participates in cellular homeostasis, cell-cycle modulation, and phosphorylation of transcription factors, and can modulate the invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer [31].…”

Phospholipid Phosphatase 4 as a Driver of Malignant Glioma and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

“…CD59 is highly expressed in several cancer cell lines and tumor tissues and regulates the function, infiltration, and phenotypes of various immune cells in the tumor microenvironment ( 28 ). APOD may be a potential therapeutic target for tumor angiogenesis by suppressing PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling, an essential pathway regulating angiogenesis ( 29 , 30 ).…”