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EP3 (prostaglandin E2 receptor 3) expression is a prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival in sporadic breast cancer.
- Source :
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BMC Cancer . 4/16/2018, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p1-9. 9p. 1 Diagram, 3 Charts, 1 Graph. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>In various cancers, overexpression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and elevated prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthesis have been associated with tumor development and progression. The potential of COX-2 inhibitors in cancer prevention and treatment has been shown repeatedly; however, their clinical use is limited due to toxicity. PGE2 signals via EP receptors 1-4, whose functions are analyzed in current research in search for targeted anti-PG therapies. EP2 and EP4 rather promote tumorigenesis, while the role of EP3, especially in breast cancer, is not yet clear and both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects have been described. Our study evaluates EP3 receptor expression in sporadic breast cancer and its association with clinicopathological parameters, progression-free and overall survival.<bold>Methods: </bold>Two hundred eighty-nine sporadic breast cancer samples without primary distant metastasis were immunohistochemically analyzed for EP3 receptor expression. Tissue was stained with primary anti-EP3-antibodies. Immunoreactivity was quantified by the immunoreactivity-score (IRS); samples with an IRS ≥ 2 scored as EP3 positive. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney-U test were used for comparison of data; Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox-regression were used for survival analyses.<bold>Results: </bold>EP3 receptor was expressed in 205 of 289 samples analyzed (70.9%). EP3 receptor expression was not associated with clinicopathological parameters (e. g. tumor size, hormone receptors, lymph node status). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed a significant association of EP3 positivity with improved progression-free survival (p = 0.002) and improved overall survival (p = 0.001) after up to 10 years. Cox regression analysis confirmed EP3 positivity as a significant prognostic factor even when other known prognosticators were accounted for.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>In sporadic breast cancer, EP3 receptor expression is not significantly associated with clinicopathological parameters but is a significant prognostic factor for improved progression-free and overall survival. However, the functional aspects of EP3 receptor in breast cancer and the way how EP3 may oppose the pro-tumorigenic effects of PGE2 elevation and COX-2 overexpression are not fully understood so far. Further studies aiming at identification of the factors regulated by EP3 are necessary to evaluate the possibility of targeting EP3 in future anti-tumor therapy in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *BREAST cancer prognosis
*PROSTAGLANDIN receptors
*GENE expression
*CYCLOOXYGENASE 2
*CANCER invasiveness
*CLINICAL pathology
*CARCINOGENESIS
*ANIMAL experimentation
*BREAST tumors
*CELL receptors
*COMPARATIVE studies
*GENES
*RESEARCH methodology
*MEDICAL cooperation
*NONSTEROIDAL anti-inflammatory agents
*PROGNOSIS
*RESEARCH
*EVALUATION research
*DISEASE progression
*KAPLAN-Meier estimator
*DINOPROSTONE
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712407
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- BMC Cancer
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 129090363
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4286-9