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William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP, FASCO
Posted: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator in triple-negative breast cancer, with implications for therapeutic interventions targeting the tumor microenvironment. Analyzing data from multiple databases and validating findings with clinical samples, Xiao Ma, PhD, of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China, and colleagues found elevated NRP1 expression of this protein encoded by the NRP1 gene in triple-negative breast cancer tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues, indicating its potential as a biomarker.
“We found that NRP1 might be involved in the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancer as well as in the corresponding immune regulation,” the study authors concluded.
The investigators used bioinformatics analysis combined with immunohistochemistry to investigate NRP1 expression and its clinical relevance in triple-negative breast cancer. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus, and other databases were integrated to evaluate the association of this protein with prognosis, tumor immune cell infiltration, and drug resistance. Clinical samples from 50 patients with triple-negative breast cancer validated the findings, confirming elevated NRP1 expression in cancerous tissues.
The investigators found that NRP1 expression seemed to correlate with poorer prognosis, reflected in shorter overall survival. “The Kaplan-Meier survival curves suggested the median overall survival was significantly shorter in patients with high NRP1 expression than in those with low NRP1 expression (13.6 vs 15.2 months, P < .05),” they wrote. Of note, NRP1 expression appeared to correlate with tumor size and grade, suggesting its involvement in disease progression. Further analysis identified NRP1’s association with immune regulation in triple-negative breast cancer, evidenced by its correlation with various immune cells and checkpoints. In addition, NRP1 expression was found to be linked to immune-related genes and pathways. According to the investigators, prognostic analysis revealed a clear association between high NRP1 expression and reduced overall survival.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
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