Background
Breast cancer clinical outcome is affected by tumor molecular features, and the identification of subtype-specific prognostic biomarkers is relevant for breast cancer translational research. Gene expression signatures proved to be able to complement prognostic information provided by classical clinico-pathological features. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been causally linked to tumorigenesis and cancer progression and have been associated with patient outcome, also in breast cancer.
Conclusions
We highlighted a relevant and subtype-specific role in breast cancer for miR-30e* and demonstrated that adding miRNA markers to gene signatures and clinico-pathological features can help for a better prognostication.
Methods
MicroRNAs associated with the development of distant metastasis were identified in a cohort of 92 ESR1+/ERBB2- lymph node-negative breast cancers from patients not receiving adjuvant treatment.
Results
miR-30e* was identified as independent protective prognostic factor in lymph node-negative untreated patients with ESR1+/ERBB2- tumours and retained a significant association with a good prognosis in treated patients with the same tumor subtype as well as in the ERBB2+ subtype, but not in ESR1-/ERBB2- tumours. Conclusions: We highlighted a relevant and subtype-specific role in breast cancer for miR-30e* and demonstrated that adding miRNA markers to gene signatures and clinico-pathological features can help for a better prognostication.