Cytoplasmic cyclin E is an independent marker of aggressive tumor biology and breast cancer-specific mortality in women over 70 years of age

Simon J. Johnston, Binafsha M. Syed, Ruth M. Parks, Cíntia J. Monteiro, Joseph A. Caruso, Andrew R. Green, Ian O. Ellis, Kelly K. Hunt, Cansu Karakas, Khandan Keyomarsi, Kwok Leung Cheung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multi-cohort analysis demonstrated that cytoplasmic cyclin E expression in primary breast tumors predicts aggressive disease. However, compared to their younger counterparts, older patients have favorable tumor biology and are less likely to die of breast cancer. Biomarkers therefore require interpretation in this specific context. Here, we assess data on cytoplasmic cyclin E from a UK cohort of older women alongside a panel of >20 biomarkers. Between 1973 and 2010, 813 women ≥70 years of age underwent initial surgery for early breast cancer, from which a tissue microarray was constructed (n = 517). Biomarker expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Multivariate analysis of breast cancer-specific survival was performed using Cox’s proportional hazards. We found that cytoplasmic cyclin E was the only biological factor independently predictive of breast cancer-specific survival in this cohort of older women (hazard ratio (HR) = 6.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.93–20.14; p = 0.002). At ten years, 42% of older patients with cytoplasmic cyclin E-positive tumors had died of breast cancer versus 8% of negative cases (p < 0.0005). We conclude that cytoplasmic cyclin E is an exquisite marker of aggressive tumor biology in older women. Patients with cytoplasmic cyclin E-negative tumors are unlikely to die of breast cancer. These data have the potential to influence treatment strategy in older patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number712
JournalCancers
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Biomarker
  • Breast cancer
  • Cyclin E
  • Older patients
  • Prognosis
  • Survival
  • Tumor biology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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