Expression and clinical significance of ITGA3 in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Integrin subunit Alpha 3 is essential for cell adhesion and movement, but its role in breast cancer (BC) is unclear. This study evaluated ITGA3 expression in BC and its clinical significance. METHODS: The Human Protein Atlas (HPA), UALCAN, and Kaplan-Meier plotter were used to analyze ITGA3 in BC. ITGA3 was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. The cell counting kit-8 test was used to examine the role of ITGA3 in cell proliferation. RESULTS: BC tissues' ITGA3 protein and mRNA levels were significantly lower than normal controls. ITGA3 was associated with better recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival, especially in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, Luminal B, and Luminal B subtypes. ITGA3 predicted RFS for 5 years and the response to chemotherapy. ITGA3 was associated with ER status but not age, tumor, node, metastasis stages, or tumor size. ITGA3 has a positive impact on BC cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: ITGA3 may be a predictive marker for BC and a therapeutic target. These findings need to be confirmed, and the molecular mechanisms of ITGA3 need to be clarified.