Expression and clinical implications of basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor 2 in breast cancer

Abstract

Background Basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor 2 (BATF2) has been reported to participate in the occurrence and development of some malignancies. Herein, we aimed to explore the expression pattern and clinical implications of BATF2 in breast cancer (BC). Methods We assessed the differences in BATF2 mRNA expression between cancerous and noncancerous tissues in BC using GEPIA and UALCAN data and in BATF2 protein expression pattern using Human Protein Atlas (HPA) data. BATF2 co-expression networks were analyzed in Coexpedia. The association between the differentially expressed BATF2 mRNA and BC prognosis was assessed using UALCAN, OSbrca, and GEPIA databases. In external validations, BATF2 protein expression in BC tissues was quantitated using a tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis, and BATF2 mRNA expression in serum and serum-derived exosomes of BC patients using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results No difference in the BATF2 mRNA expression level was found between cancerous and noncancerous tissues in BC based on databases. There were low-to-moderate levels of increases in BATF2 protein expressions in BC cases from the HPA cohort. BATF2 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with androgen receptor (AR) and positively correlated with BRCA2 DNA repair associated (BRCA2), marker of proliferation Ki-67 (Mki67), and tumor protein p53 (TP53) expressions. Generally, BATF2 mRNA exhibited a non-significant association with BC prognosis; yet the subgroup analyses showed that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with high BATF2 mRNA expressions had a longer overall survival (OS). Our IHC analysis revealed a positive rate of BATF2 protein expression of 46.90%, mainly located in the nucleus of cancer cells in BC, and the OS of BC patients with high BATF2 protein expressions was prolonged. The positive rates of BATF2 mRNA expressions in the serum and exosomes were 45.00 and 41.67%, respectively. Besides, the AUCs of serum and exosomal BATF2 mRNA for BC diagnosis were 0.8929 and 0.8869, respectively. Conclusions BC patients exhibit low-to-moderate expressions in BATF2 mRNA expression levels in cancerous tissues. The high BATF2 protein expression can be a potential indicator of a better BC prognosis. Serum and exosomal BATF2 mRNA levels also serve as promising noninvasive biomarkers for BC diagnosis.

CD36-BATF2\MYB Axis Predicts Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy Response in Gastric Cancer

“…CD36, as a fatty acid receptor and a toll-like receptor co-receptor [32], has been reported to contribute to epithelial-tomesenchymal transition and metastasis of GC [33][34][35][36][37][38], while its role in the TME of gastric cancer remains unclear. BATF2, the basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor 2 [39], is predicted to enhance DNA-binding transcription factor activity and reverse multidrug resistance in GC cells [40][41][42]. MYB is a critical transcription factor responsible for regulating hematopoiesis.…”

The cancer-testis antigen a-kinase anchor protein 3 facilitates breast cancer progression via activation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling

“…The scoring system based on the proportion of AKAP3-positive cells was used: < 5% (0 points), 5%-25% (1 point), 25%-50% (2 points), > 50% (3 points). The AKAP3 expression score was calculated by multiplying the proportion score by color intensity score and graded accordingly: 0 (−), 1–2 (+), 3–5 (++), 6–9 (+++), of which −/+ was regarded as low expression and ++/+++ high expression [ 23 ].…”

Enantioanalysis of Leucine in Whole Blood Samples Using Enantioselective, Stochastic Sensors

“…Shennan et al [14] studied the L-leucine transport in human breast cancer cells. The role of leucine as a zipper [15,16] was shown in studies by Lin et al [15] and Jeong et al [16]. The role of D-leucine as a new biomarker for breast cancer was also investigated.…”

“…Leucine is an essential amino acid belonging to the branched-chain amino acids. The role of leucine in breast cancer biochemistry and treatment was studied in different occasions [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Xiao et al [12] proved that leucine deprivation inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human breast cancer cells.…”