title: Androgen Receptor (AR), E-Cadherin, and Ki-67 as Emerging Targets and Novel Prognostic Markers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TNBC is an aggressive subset of breast cancer (BC) without specific target therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational, retrospective study included 45 cases of TNBC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the AR, E-cadherin and Ki-67 in relation to histological type, time to relapse and overall survival (OS). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was carried out on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples obtained from patients defined TNBC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AR was positive (IHC >10%) in 26.6%. E-cadherin (CDH1) expression was considered positive if the score was ≥ 2. This expression was negative in 53.3% cases. The Ki-67 index was ≥ 20% in 37.7%. Univariate analyses showed that AR, CDH1 and Ki-67 are significantly associated with OS. Multivariate analysis showed that AR and Ki-67 expression are independent variables associated with OS. The statistical analysis showed that patients with AR negative and Ki-67 positive expression have a significant correlation with poor outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the combination of AR and E-cadherin expression as well as Ki-67 status might be useful prognostic markers in TNBC. Hence, these molecular determinants could play an interesting role to classify subgroups of TNBC.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit AOOR Papardo-Piemonte & Department of Human Pathology University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina Rosaria Rita
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Mèdica Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ieni
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cardia
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit AOOR Papardo-Piemonte & Department of Human Pathology University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit AOOR Papardo-Piemonte & Department of Human Pathology University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Tindara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franchina
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuccari
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit AOOR Papardo-Piemonte & Department of Human Pathology University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Adamo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011944:Receptors, Androgen