Androgen receptor expression in breast cancer: relationship with clinicopathological factors and biomarkers

Background  Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent tumor. Most breast cancer cells have an androgen receptor (AR), but the clinical value of AR expression is unclear. Methods  AR expression was evaluated in 227 primary breast cancers using immunohistochemistry. The relation of AR expression to clinicopathological factors and biomarkers was analyzed. AR expression was assessed semiquantitatively, and tumors with more than 10% of stained cells were regarded as positive. Results  The AR-positive rate was higher in smaller tumors (P = 0.045), tumors with negative lymph node metastasis (P = 0.045), scirrhous-type tumors (P < 0.0001), tumors of low histological grade (P = 0.0001), and p53-negative tumors (P = 0.0097). Although AR had no relation to menopausal status, 79% of cases of high AR expression (>50% stained cells) were in postmenopausal women. AR was related to estrogen receptor (ER; P = 0.027) and progesterone receptor (PR; P = 0.016) expression, but showed no relation to human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (Her2) expression. Regarding the coexpression of these receptors, 18 of the 42 cases of triple-negative (ER/ PR/ Her2-negative) tumors (43%) were AR-positive. Conclusion  AR expression is related to low malignancy in breast cancer. The assessment of AR expression may lead to new treatment strategies for breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women and in women with tumors that show triple negativity for hormone receptors.     

Estrogen receptor expression in atypical hyperplasia: lack of association with breast cancer

Estrogen receptor (ER) is expressed in normal and malignant breast epithelium, and expression levels have been found to increase with age in normal breast epithelium but not in atypical hyperplasia (AH) and carcinoma in situ. Here we assess ER expression in AH and its association with later breast cancer. ER expression was assessed immunohistochemically in archival sections from 246 women with AH who had open benign breast biopsy from 1967 to 1991. The ACIS III (Dako) was utilized to calculate ER expression in all atypical foci. Using multivariate linear regression, we examined associations of ER expression with age at biopsy, indication for biopsy, type of atypia, number of atypical foci, involution status, and family history. Breast cancer risk across levels of ER expression was also assessed compared with the Iowa SEER control population. Among 246 women, 87 (35%) had atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), 141 (57%) had atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), and 18 (7%) had both. Forty-nine (20%) developed breast cancer (median follow-up of 14.4 years). Multivariate analysis indicated that type of atypia and age at diagnosis were significantly associated with ER percent staining and intensity (P < 0.05). ER expression was increased in women with ADH and/or those over age 55. ER expression did not significantly impact breast cancer risk in patients diagnosed with atypia. We found increasing ER expression in AH with increasing age. ER expression in AH does not further discriminate breast cancer risk in women with atypia.     

Androgen receptor in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer: Beyond expression

In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have reshaped the overall strategy of breast cancer (BC) treatment and have markedly improved patient survival. This is, in part, due to novel therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC. Unfortunately, many patients present de novo resistance to these therapies or develop an acquired resistance over time. Therefore, research is now focused on discovering new molecular targets to overcome these resistances. Interestingly, preclinical and clinical studies have shown a critical role for the cross-talk between androgen receptor (AR) and ER in luminal-like BC. AR is expressed in >60% of BC and in up to 90% of ERα-positive tumors. Multiple studies suggest that AR is associated with a favorable prognosis. However, AR overexpression and, in particular, the high AR:ER ratio, seem to be involved in resistance to hormonal treatment. In this setting, a group of BCs could benefit from AR-inhibitors; nevertheless, some ER-positive BC patients do not seem to benefit from this strategy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that would enable the selection of patients who might benefit from combination treatment with ER and AR inhibitors.     

Androgen receptor gene alterations in Finnish male breast cancer

Mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene have been suggested to predispose to male breast cancer (MBC). Studies on MBC patients have not been based on the mutation screening of the entire coding region of the AR and the number of subjects has been small. Therefore, some AR gene alterations may have remained undetected. In the present study, we have comprehensively screened the entire coding region of the AR gene for mutations and also studied the role of AR CAG and GGC repeat lengths as risk factors for MBC in a cohort of 32 Finnish MBC patients. To estimate the possible involvement of the prostate cancer predisposing AR Arg726Leu germ-line mutation in MBC, this mutation was tested in 117 MBC patients. No germ-line mutations were found and the CAG and GGC repeat lengths were similar among MBC cases as among Scandinavian population. Our data indicate that the AR gene does not substantially contribute to MBC predisposition.     

Androgen receptor polyglutamine tract length in Egyptian male breast cancer patients

Male Breast Cancer (MBC) is a rare disease in the U.S., accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers. Rates of MBC in Africa are more variable than in the U.S., therefore, understanding the risk factors involved in a population like Egypt can clarify the nature of MBC. The polyglutamine tract (QT) is a variable region of the androgen receptor (AR), a nuclear receptor which is important in modulating androgen actions and generally inhibits growth in breast tissue. It is hypothesized that a long QT results in weaker AR activity over the lifetime, resulting in less AR mediated control over cellular division and higher risk of MBC. As a corollary, we expect to see a distribution skewed toward longer QTs in MBC patients compared to controls and overall relatively longer QT’s in populations with higher rates of MBC. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the distribution of AR QT lengths among MBC patients in Egypt. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 44 Egyptian MBC patients were analyzed for this polymorphism. Amplification followed by fragment length analysis revealed QT length. For the control series, blood from 43 Egyptian males without a family or personal history of breast or prostate cancers was collected and analyzed similarly. There was no significant difference between patients and controls with respect to mean QT length (P = 0.84; means were 19.5 ± 2.8 and 19.3 ± 4.2, for patients and controls, respectively). Though, short QT lengths were more prevalent among controls (14.0%), but almost absent in cases (2.3%). Although the mean lengths were not different in cases and controls, the near absence of short tracts in cases suggests a possible protective effect of very short QT lengths against MBC. In populations in which there is variable incidence of MBC by region, investigations of the distribution of AR QT lengths are warranted to further delineate its role as a risk factor in MBC.     

Androgen receptor gene expression in human prostate carcinoma cell lines

Responses to androgen vary widely among prostate cancers and prostatic carcinoma cell lines. We have explored the basis for this heterogeneity by examining the levels of androgen receptor expression in a prostate carcinoma cell line (LNCaP) that expresses the androgen receptor and two prostate carcinoma cell lines that do not contain detectable androgen receptor. We find that while the LNCaP cell line contains high levels of both the androgen receptor protein and mRNA, the receptor-negative cell lines DU-145 and PC-3 do not express androgen receptor protein as detected by immunoblotting or mRNA as detected by Northern analysis or S1 nuclease protection. These results indicate that the absence of androgen receptor expression in the androgen receptor-negative cell lines is caused by diminished androgen receptor mRNA levels. Genomic Southern analysis indicates that the differences in androgen receptor expression in each of these cell lines is not associated with detectable alterations in the structure of the androgen receptor gene.     

AR在乳腺导管原位癌中的表达及其与ER、PR表达的关系

目的:研究导管原位癌中雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)的表达情况,探讨AR表达与组织分级及与雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)、孕激素受体(progesterone receptor,PR)表达的关系.方法:用免疫组织化学方法研究51例不同级别导管原位癌(breast ductal carcinoma in situ,DCIS)中AR的表达及与ER、PR表达状态的相关性.结果:AR阳性表达于18例DCIS中,33例DCIS中没有表达.13例低级别导管内癌中有3例AR阳性表达,15例中级导管内癌中有7例AR阳性表达,23例高级导管内癌中有8例AR阳性表达(P=0.4270).导管内癌的分化程度与ER(P =0.0036)及PR(P=0.0398)的表达密切相关.在导管内癌的不同组织学亚型间AR的表达差异有统计学意义(P=0.0156),但ER(P =0.0695)与PR(P=0.4672)的表达无差异.绝经前与绝经后患者导管内癌的AR表达无差异(P =0.6510),但ER(P=0.0074)与PR(P=0.0259)的表达有差异.结论:有一部分乳腺导管内癌表达AR,导管内癌的AR表达与组织分化程度无关,与DCIS中ER、PR表达也没有相关性.     

Androgen receptor expresion in breast cancer: Relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors,prognosis, and expression of metalloproteases and their inhibitors

Background  

In the present study we analyze, in patients with breast cancer, the tumor expression of androgen receptors (AR), its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and with the expression of several matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), as well as with prognosis.     

Androgen receptor expression is a significant prognostic factor in estrogen receptor positive breast cancers

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the prognostic value of androgen receptor (AR) expression in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, treated with endocrine therapy, with or without the addition of chemotherapy. A consecutive series of 953 patients with ER-positive breast cancer, treated between 1998 and 2003, was selected. Repeated immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of ER in the tumor of 938 patients. AR expression was measured by immunohistochemistry. The Kaplan–Meier method, logrank test and multivariate Cox models were used to explore the impact of AR expression on time to relapse (TTR) and disease specific survival (DSS) in all patients and in subgroups treated with chemo-endocrine therapy or endocrine therapy alone. AR immunoreactivity was assessable in 859 tumors and positive in 609 (70.9%). AR expression was a significant marker of good prognosis for TTR (P = 0.001) and DSS (P < 0.001). This effect was particularly evident in the group of patients receiving chemo-endocrine therapy (TTR (P = 0.015) and DSS (P < 0.001)). Cox models confirmed AR as an independent variable for both TTR (P = 0.003, HR 0.444, 95%CI 0.258–0.765) and DSS (P < 0.001, HR 0.135, 95%CI 0.054–0.337). Thus, we focused on ER-positive luminal B breast cancer that may be selected for chemotherapy because of their more aggressive immunophenotype. In this subset AR expression identified a group of patients with better prognosis for TTR (P = 0.017, HR 0.521, 95%CI 0.306–0.888) and DSS (P = 0.001, HR 0.276, 95% CI 0.130–0.588). AR expression is an independent prognostic factor of better outcome in patients with ER-positive breast cancers.     

Androgen receptor expression and breast cancer mortality in a population-based prospective cohort

Purpose

The increase in clinical trials with androgen receptor (AR)-targeting drugs emphasizes the need of clarifying the role of AR expression in different breast cancer subtypes. AR confers good prognosis in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, but its role in ER-negative (ER?) breast cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to elaborate on previous findings of a differential prognostic role for AR depending on ER status, using breast cancer mortality (BCM) as endpoint, in a population-based cohort from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study.

Methods

Immunohistochemical AR expression was assessed in 910 women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed 1991–2010, supplemented with clinicopathological information, vital status, and cause of death, with the last follow-up in December 2014 (median 10 years). Survival analyses according to AR status and AR/ER combinations were performed.

Results

AR expression was available for 671 tumors. AR+ (n = 573, 85%) was associated with favorable established tumor markers and lower BCM in univariable analysis, especially during the first 5 years following diagnosis [HR 0.4; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.2–0.7]. Multivariable analysis for short-term follow-up indicated higher BCM among patients with AR+ER? tumors (HR 3.5; 95% CI 1.4–9.1) than other AR and ER combinations.

Conclusions

AR expression added prognostic information to ER expression with respect to short-term prognosis. The worst prognosis was seen for patients with AR+/ER? tumors in short-term follow-up, supporting the pre-specified hypothesis. However, larger cohorts are needed for further characterization of the role of AR expression in ER? breast cancer.

     

雄激素受体与肝细胞癌

 在肝脏组织癌变过程中,雄激素及其受体可能起到重要作用。相关研究证实大多数肝细胞癌患者癌组织中都能检测到雄激素受体的表达,且雄激素受体的表达上调与肿瘤患者预后相关。最近研究表明雄激素受体通过各种途径参与肝细胞癌发生发展过程,以雄激素受体作为治疗靶点可能是肝细胞癌治疗的一种新疗法。     

Steroid hormone receptor expression in male breast cancer.

AIMS: To investigate expression of the steroid hormone receptors estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta, progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) in male breast cancer. METHODS: Specimens from 16 male breast cancers were immunostained for ERalpha, ERbeta, PR and AR. FINDINGS: Eighty-seven percent of tumours expressed ERalpha, 93% PR, 87% ERbeta and 87% AR. Staining for ERalpha and PR was confined exclusively to the nuclei of epithelial cells with some heterogeneity. Nuclear immunoreactivity was also observed with AR. Again this was restricted to epithelial cells but tended to be more uniform. ERbeta was seen in the nuclei of epithelial cells and also in stromal fibroblasts and lymphocytes. Analysis of serial sections revealed a similar pattern of staining with ERbeta and AR in epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to expression of the better known steroid receptors, ERalpha, PR and AR, we have demonstrated a high rate of expression of ERbeta in male breast cancer. This is in keeping with the generally high steroid receptor expression seen in males. However, the abundance of ERbeta expressed in this small series of male breast cancer is in contrast to female breast cancer where ERbeta expression is often reduced.     

pS2 in breast carcinoma: association with steroid hormone receptor status

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the steroid hormone receptors has proved to be of significant value in breast cancer. In the present study the possible importance of estrogen-regulated pS2 protein was investigated. Our direct purpose was to answer the question whether the expression of pS2 may be a marker of functional heterogeneity with respect to the steroid hormone receptor status. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The study included 152 patients with primary, operable, histologically confirmed breast carcinomas. Histology specimens were reviewed and classified according to type, nodal status, tumor size and grade. Steroid hormone receptors were assayed by biochemical methods according to the procedures recommended by the EORTC. pS2 protein measurement was performed in breast carcinoma cytosols using an immunoradiometric assay. The results were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods. RESULTS: A statistically significant inverse correlation between pS2 protein expression and histological tumor grade was found. The expression of pS2 protein was confirmed to be correlated with steroid hormone receptor status. However, it is important to point out that in spite of these statistically significant findings there were no significant biological associations due to overlapping individual pS2 protein values. The baseline level of expression of pS2 protein was obtained in histological grade III carcinomas with a negative steroid hormone receptor status. It was shown that the distribution of carcinomas according to the baseline level of pS2 protein expression was heterogeneous among estrogen receptor-positive carcinomas, and strikingly homogeneous among estrogen and progesterone-negative carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that PR and pS2 protein may identify distinct subsets of estrogen receptor-positive breast carcinomas.     

Immunoreactive estrogen receptor in breast tumor and adjacent tissue: association with clinicopathological characteristics in Indian population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Estrogen receptor (ER) status serves as an important prognostic marker in the management of breast cancer. The level of ER in breast tumor is different in different racial and ethnic groups. In the present study, we have compared the ER levels in breast tumor and adjacent normal tissue in Indian sub-population. METHODS: Immunoreactive ER was measured by enzyme immunoassay in breast tumors (ERt) and adjacent area (ERa) derived from 45 breast cancer patients from North India. Clinical parameters like age, menopausal status, tumor stage, recurrence and treatment status were recorded. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of ERt and ERa (r = 0.386, P = 0.009). While the ERt levels increased with advancing age (P = 0.087), the ERa levels did not change in different age groups. The ERt levels negatively correlated with tumor stage and recurrence (r = -0.263, P = 0.110 and r = -0.202, P = 0.189). A significant negative correlation was also observed between the ERa levels and tumor recurrence (r = -0.337, P = 0.025). Further, the ERt positivity was higher than the ERa positivity. The clinical characteristics like age, tumor stage, metastasis, recurrence, and treatment status did not correlate with ERt and ERa positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the levels of ERt and ERa positively correlate and both ERt and ERa show negative correlation with tumor recurrence.     

Nuclear morphometry in male breast carcinoma: association with cell proliferative activity, oncogene expression, DNA content and prognosis

To investigate the prognostic value of nuclear morphometry in male breast carcinoma (MBC), histological samples from 50 patients (mean age 62.2 years) were retrospectively analyzed by computerized nuclear morphometry. All patients received surgery; 35 had multiple combinations of adjuvant therapies. Mean follow-up was 67 months (range 1-230). In each case, 100 tumor cells were measured, and the mean nuclear area (MNA), standard deviation of the nuclear area (SDNA), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP), standard deviation of the nuclear perimeter (SDNP) and shape factor (SHF) were calculated. Morphometric features were compared with tumor histological grade, size, nodal status, DNA ploidy evaluated by flow-cytometry and cell proliferative activity assessed by the quantity of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins (AgNORs), monoclonal antibody (MAb) PC10 against proliferating cell nuclear antigen and MAb MIB-1. Comparison was also made with the immunohistochemical detection of p53, bcl-2, c-erbB-2 and c-myc proteins. Significant association was found between nuclear morphometric parameters and tumor grade, DNA content and cell proliferation indices. SDNA was greater in p53-positive and bcl-2-negative cases; SDNP was greater in p53-positive cases; SHF was lower in p53- and c-myc-positive cases. Overall survival was shorter in carcinomas with high MNA, SDNA, MNP and SDNP and low SHF. In multivariate analysis, performed by testing nuclear morphometric parameters, histological grade, tumor size, nodal status and p53 immunostaining in the Cox model, p53 over-expression and histological grade retained independent prognostic significance. When p53 was excluded, only SDNP appeared as an independent prognostic variable. Our results indicate that nuclear morphometric parameters can identify an aggressive tumor phenotype and provide additional prognostic information for patients with MBC.     

Expression of androgen receptor and prostate-specific antigen in male breast carcinoma

Background  

The androgen-regulated proteins prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PSAP) are present in high concentrations in normal prostate and prostatic cancer and are considered to be tissue-specific to prostate. These markers are commonly used to diagnose metastatic prostate carcinoma at various sites including the male breast. However, expression of these two proteins in tumors arising in tissues regulated by androgens such as male breast carcinoma has not been thoroughly evaluated.     

Androgen receptor expression is significantly associated with better outcomes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to evaluate the implications of androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancers.Patients and methodsWe investigated immunohistochemical AR expression from the tissue microarrays of 931 patients between 1999 and 2005, and analyzed demographics and outcomes using uni-/multivariate analyses. Tumors with ≥10% nuclear-stained cells were considered positive for AR.ResultsAR was expressed in 58.1% of patients. AR was significantly related to older age at diagnosis, smaller size, well-differentiated tumors, higher positivity of hormone receptors, non-triple-negative breast cancers (non-TNBCs), and lower proliferative index. In estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors, AR was distinctively associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) overexpression. With a mean follow-up of 72.7 months, AR was positively related to survival in ER-positive but not in ER-negative tumors. In Cox’s models, AR was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in ER-positive cancers. Interestingly, molecular apocrine tumors (ER negative and AR positive) with HER2 positive status showed trends of poorer outcome, but AR had no impact on survival in patients with TNBC.ConclusionsAR is significantly associated with favorable features in breast cancers and related to better outcomes in ER-positive not in ER-negative tumors. These results suggest that AR could be an additional marker for endocrine responsiveness in ER-positive cancers and a candidate for therapeutic targeting of ER-negative tumors.