Qing Qu

The value of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the predictive roles of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. Method A PubMed and Web of Science literature search was designed. Random or fixed effect models were adopted to estimate the summary odds ratio (OR). Heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity among studies and to assess the effects of study quality. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot, Eggers test and Beggs test. We included studies where the predictive significance of TILs, and/or TILs subset on the pathologic complete response (pCR) were determined in NAC of breast cancer. Results A total of 13 published studies (including 3251 patients) were eligible. In pooled analysis, the detection of higher TILs numbers in pre-treatment biopsy was correlated with better pCR to NAC (OR = 3.93, 95% CI, 3.26–4.73). Moreover, TILs predicted higher pCR rates in triple negative (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.61–3.83), HER2 positive (OR = 5.05, 95% CI: 2.86–8.92) breast cancer, but not in estrogen receptor (ER) positive (OR = 6.21, 95%CI: 0.86–45.15) patients. In multivariate analysis, TILs were still an independent marker for high pCR rate (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.19–1.66). For TILs subset, higher levels of CD8+ and FOXP3+ T-lymphocytes in pre-treatment biopsy respectively predicted better pathological response to NAC (OR = 6.44, 95% CI: 2.52–16.46; OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.05–8.26). Only FOXP3+ lymphocytes in post-NAC breast tissue were a predictive marker for low pCR rate in univariate (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21–0.80) and multivariate (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–0.95) analysis. Conclusion Higher TILs levels in pre-treatment biopsy indicated higher pCR rates for NAC. TILs subset played different roles in predicting response to NAC.

The Impact of Androgen Receptor Expression on Breast Cancer Survival: A Retrospective Study and Meta-Analysis

Recent studies have highlighted the role of androgen receptor (AR) as a prognostic biomarker of breast cancer. However, its predictive role in disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) still remains inconclusive. The present study aimed to retrospectively investigate the association between AR and survival outcomes in breast cancer and also identify this association by a meta-analysis of published researches. Clinical data from 109 patients with breast cancer, who underwent surgery at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, were retrospectively analyzed for immunohistochemical AR expression measured by tissue microarray. For meta-analysis, articles available in Pubmed on the relationship between AR and breast cancer outcomes were included. Data obtained from both were combined and analyzed. Women with AR positive tumors in the retrospective study had a significantly better DFS (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.88) and OS (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04-0.85) than women with AR negative ones. Meta-analysis showed that AR expression in breast tumors was an indicator of better DFS (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.43-0.64). In subgroup analysis, AR could predict DFS outcome in estrogen receptor (ER) positive (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.34-0.59), ER negative (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26-0.67), and triple negative breast cancer (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.23-0.69). Moreover, in ER positive breast cancer patients, the expression of AR could predict better OS (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.82). The present analysis indicated that AR expression was associated with lower risk of recurrence in patients with all breast cancer types and better OS in cases with ER positive.

The Prognostic Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The prognostic values of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and TILs subsets in breast cancer (BC) are uncertain. Methods A systematic literature search (MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to August 2014) was conducted for studies which met the eligibility criteria. The primary clinical outcome was defined as disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and BC-specific survival (BCSS). Random or fixed-effects model was adopted to estimate the summary hazard ratio (HR). Results Twenty-five published studies comprising 22,964 patients were reviewed. Pooled analysis indicated that TILs were not prognostic markers for DFS and OS in overall population, but related to improved DFS (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76–0.88) and OS (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71–0.87) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. For TILs subsets, CD8+ lymphocytes were associated with improved DFS (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56–0.84) and BCSS (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71–0.86) in overall population, while FOXP3+ lymphocytes were associated with reduced DFS (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.01–2.05) and OS (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15–1.97). In estrogen receptor (ER) negative patients, CD8+ lymphocytes was also related to better BCSS. In addition, the high density of CD20+, CD3+ or low level of PD-1+ or γδ T lymphocytes indicated increased OS in limited studies. Conclusion TILs and TILs subsets are promising prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, especially in TNBC.

Retraction Note to: IL-6 secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts induces tamoxifen resistance in luminal breast cancer

The authors wish to retract this article due to concerns raised regarding some of the data presented in Figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and Supplementary Figures 6 and 7. According to the data presented in Figures 1, 3 and 7, the major conclusion drawn from this article is still valid: IL-6 secreted by CAFs is causal factor for tamoxifen resistance in luminal breast cancer.

USP2 promotes cell migration and invasion in triple negative breast cancer cell lines

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is often associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of our study was to identify biomarkers predictive of TNBC progression. Primary TNBC breast tissue samples including four with metastasis and six without metastasis were subjected to Affymetrix GeneChip® analysis (human genome U133). Ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) was identified as an upregulated gene in the metastatic group, and its expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 121 primary breast cancers, 13 paired normal tissues, and 13 paired metastatic lesions. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test and Cox regression hazard model. Matrigel migration and invasion assays in USP2-silenced and USP2-overexpressed breast cancer cell lines were used to investigate the mechanisms of USP2 in vitro. Positive immunostaining for USP2 was detected in breast tumors and was correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) statuses and TNBC subtype. USP2 was overexpressed in distant metastatic lesions compared with primary breast cancers. Survival analyses demonstrated that positive USP2 is a poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival. Silencing of USP2 expression decreased migration and invasion in LM2-4175 and SCP46 cells in association with the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) expression, whereas overexpression of USP2 in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells enhanced migration and invasion and upregulated the expression of MMP2. The present study showed that USP2 expression is associated with TNBC cell line’s invasiveness and poor survival of breast cancer patients and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TNBC.

The importance of biopsy in clinically diagnosed metastatic lesions in patients with breast cancer

BackgroundReceptor status discordance, such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status between primary breast cancer and metastatic lesions has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biopsy of clinically diagnosed metastatic lesions and to determine the changes in hormonal receptor and HER2 status of the metastatic lesions.MethodsSixty-three patients with clinically diagnosed metastatic breast cancer underwent an excisional biopsy or core needle aspiration guided by computed tomography/ultrasound. ER, PR and HER2 were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).ResultsA total of 48 metastases (76.2%) and nine second primary malignancies (14.3%, seven primary lung cancers and two primary pancreatic cancers) were found. The discrepancies between ER, PR and HER2 status between the primary breast cancer and metastatic lesions were 14.6%, 16.7% and 8.3%, respectively. Six lesions (9.5%) were proved benign upon biopsy.ConclusionsThe biopsy of clinically suspicious metastatic lesions could histologically confirm the diagnosis of metastasis, evaluate discrepancies between ER, PR and HER2 status and exclude secondary malignancy, which might change the therapeutic strategy for breast cancer patients.

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

138 Background: Whether tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains elusive. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertook to establish the relationship between TIL and pathological complete response (pCR) rate in NAC of breast cancer. A PubMed and Web of Science literature search was designed. Studies were included, in which the predictive significance of intratumoral and/or stromal TIL, and/or CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and FOXP3+ lymphocytes were determined . Pooled ORs and publication bias was evaluated by STATA software. RESULTS A total of 13 published studies (including 3,555 patients) were eligible. In pooled analysis, higher number of TIL in pre-treatment biopsy was correlated with higher pCR rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and odds ratio (OR) was 3.82 (95% confidence interval (CI), 3.10-4.70), no matter tested in intratumor (OR=3.32, 95% CI: 2.52-4.37), in stroma (OR=4.15,95% CI: 2.94-5.86), or in combined sites (OR=8.98, 95% CI: 3.79,21.30). Moreover, TIL predicts higher pCR rate in triple negative (OR=5.03,95% CI: 2.31-10.97) and HER2+ (OR=5.54,95% CI: 1.39-22.12) patients, but not in hormonal receptor (HR) +/HER2- patients (OR=2.57, 95% CI: 0.20-33.24). For TIL subsets, CD8+ T-lymphocytes predict better pathological response to NAC no matter in pre- (OR=3.36,95%CI: 1.15-9.85) or post-NAC (OR=4.71,95%CI: 1.29-17.27) tissue, while FOXP3+ T-lymphocytes have similar predictive roles only when tested after NAC (OR=4.26, 95%CI: 1.83-9.92).With limited study, the predictive role of CD3+ and CD4+T-lymphoctes were unclear, more perspective studies were needed in future to establish the relationship. CONCLUSIONS High level of TIL in pre-treatment biopsy could be a good marker indicates better pathological response to NAC in triple-negative and HER2+ breast cancer patients. Different subsets have different predictive roles in the pCR rate to NAC. However, significant heterogeneity and an insufficient number of studies underscore the need for further prospective studies on subsets of T lymphocytes and different subtypes of breast cancer to increase the robustness of the analyses.