Purpose
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis. CD103+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are crucial for anti-tumor immunity in TNBC. We investigated whether their spatial interactions with other T-cells influence clinical outcomes, particularly following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study analyzed 182 TNBC patients (98 NAC-treated; 84 non-NAC). Using Opal™ multiplex immunohistochemistry data and the Spatial Image Analysis of Tissues (SPIAT) R package, we analysed spatial interactions between CD103+ cells and other T cell subsets (CD45RO, CD8, CD4, PD-1) in central/peripheral tumor regions. Normalized mixing score (NMS) quantified spatial interactions.
Results
NMS-based clustering revealed two distinct CD103+ cell interaction patterns—Cluster 1 (low NMS) characterized by weaker and Cluster 2 (high NMS) by stronger spatial interactions between CD103+ and other T cell subsets. In the NAC group, Cluster 2 in the tumor periphery was associated with lower pathologic stage (p=0.002), higher stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte level (p=0.031), and significantly improved recurrence-free survival (p=0.028) and overall survival (p=0.018) compared to Cluster 1. Central tumor region clustering patterns had no association with prognosis. No significant survival-related differences were observed in the non-NAC group according to NMS-based clustering.
Conclusion
Spatial interaction patterns between CD103+ and other T cell subsets in the tumor periphery influence clinical outcomes in NAC-treated TNBC patients. Analysing such spatial relationships between T cells, rather than their presence alone, may provide additional prognostic information for patients undergoing NAC.
Purpose Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a strong predictor of poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), yet its molecular basis remains unclear. This study investigates epithelial regulators associated with LVI and their functional roles in TNBC progression.
Materials and Methods We utilized single-cell sequencing data to further characterize epithelial cell populations in TNBC, identifying dominant epithelial clusters in LVI-positive TNBC tissues. The prognostic significance of dominant epithelial marker genes was explored through transcriptomic analysis and immunohistochemical staining of patient samples from our center. Additionally, the effects of the marker gene on TNBC cell invasion and metastasis were validated in vitro and in vivo.
Results Single-cell data analysis revealed nine distinct epithelial cell clusters within TNBC tissues. Among these, cluster 4 was identified as the dominant epithelial subpopulation in LVI-positive TNBC, marked by the prognostic gene KRT6A. Multiple datasets confirmed KRT6A as a crucial prognostic marker in TNBC. Functional assays, including Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, transwell assays, and animal experiments, demonstrated that KRT6A knockdown significantly impaired the proliferation, invasion, and metastatic potential of TNBC cells. Mechanistically, KRT6A promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by stabilizing β-catenin through glycogen synthase kinase-3β phosphorylation.
Conclusion KRT6A promotes EMT and metastasis in TNBC via Wnt/β-catenin signaling, contributing to LVI and chemoresistance. It may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in TNBC.
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Cancer Res Treat. 2018;50(4):1316-1323. Published online January 8, 2018
Purpose
The aim of this study is to compare the treatment outcomes of breast conserving surgery (BCS) plus radiotherapy (RT) versus mastectomy for patients with pT1-2N1 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Materials and Methods
Using two multicenter retrospective studies on breast cancer, a pooled analysis was performed among 320 patients with pT1-2N1 TNBC. All patients who underwent BCS (n=212) receivedwhole breast RTwith orwithoutregional nodal RT,while nonewho underwent mastectomy (n=108)received it. All patients received taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up periods were 65 months in the BCS+RT group, and 74 months in the mastectomy group.
Results
The median age of all patients was 48 years (range, 24 to 70 years). Mastectomy group had more patients with multiple tumors (p < 0.001), no lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), higher number of involved lymph node (p=0.028), and higher nodal ratio ≥ 0.2 (p=0.037). Other characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The 5-year locoregionalrecurrence-free, disease-free, and overall survivalrates of BCS+RT group versus mastectomy group were 94.6% versus 87.7%, 89.5% versus 80.4%, and 95.0% versus 87.8%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (p=0.010, p=0.006, and p=0.005, respectively).
Conclusion
In pT1-2N1 TNBC, breast conservation therapy achieved better locoregional recurrencefree, disease-free, and overall survival rates compared with mastectomy.
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Cancer Res Treat. 2017;49(3):643-655. Published online October 6, 2016
Purpose
KX-01 is a novel dual inhibitor of Src and tubulin. Unlike previous Src inhibitors that failed to show clinical benefit during treatment of breast cancer, KX-01 can potentially overcome the therapeutic limitations of current Src inhibitors through inhibition of both Src and tubulin. The present study further evaluates the activity and mechanism of KX-01 in vitro and in vivo.
Materials and Methods
The antitumor effect of KX-01 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines was determined by MTT assay. Wound healing and immunofluorescence assays were performed to evaluate the action mechanisms of KX-01. Changes in the cell cycle and molecular changes induced by KX-01 were also evaluated. A MDA-MB-231 mouse xenograft model was used to demonstrate the in vivo effects.
Results
KX-01 effectively inhibited the growth of breast cancer cell lines. The expression of phospho- Src and proliferative-signaling molecules were down-regulated in KX-01–sensitive TNBC cell lines. In addition, migration inhibition was observed by wound healing assay. KX-01– induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and increased the aneuploid cell population in KX-01–sensitive cell lines. Multi-nucleated cells were significantly increased after KX-01 treatment. Furthermore, KX-01 effectively delayed tumor growth in a MDA-MB-231 mouse xenograft model.
Conclusion
KX-01 effectively inhibited cell growth and migration of TNBC cells. Moreover, this study demonstrated that KX-01 showed antitumor effects through the inhibition of Src signaling and the induction of mitotic catastrophe. The antitumor effects of KX-01 were also demonstrated in vivo using a mouse xenograft model.
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