Analysis of gene expression of secreted factors associated with breast cancer metastases in breast cancer subtypes

Sci Rep. 2015 Jul 15:5:12133. doi: 10.1038/srep12133.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, having multiple subtypes with different malignant phenotypes. The triple-negative breast cancer, or basal breast cancer, is highly aggressive, metastatic, and difficult to treat. Previously, we identified that key molecules (IL6, CSF2, CCL5, VEGFA, and VEGFC) secreted by tumor cells and stromal cells in basal breast cancer can promote metastasis. It remains to assess whether these molecules function similarly in other subtypes of breast cancer. Here, we characterize the relative gene expression of the five secreted molecules and their associated receptors (GP130, GMRA, GMRB, CCR5, VEGFR2, NRP1, VEGFR3, NRP2) in the basal, HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) positive, luminal A, and luminal B subtypes using high throughput data from tumor samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC). IL6 and CCL5 gene expression are basal breast cancer specific, whereas high gene expression of GP130 was observed in luminal A/B. VEGFA/C and CSF2 mRNA are overexpressed in HER2 positive breast cancer, with VEGFA and CSF2 also overexpressed in basal breast cancer. Further study of the specific protein function of these factors within their associated cancer subtypes may yield personalized biomarkers and treatment modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / classification
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Chemokine CCL5 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL5 / metabolism
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130 / genetics
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • IL6ST protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • RNA, Messenger
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • VEGFC protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
  • Cytokine Receptor gp130
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2