Journal of Cancer Therapeutics & Research

Journal of Cancer Therapeutics & Research

ISSN 2049-7962
Original Research

The prognostic value of BRCA1 promoter methylation in early stage triple negative breast cancer

Priyanka Sharma1†*, Shane R. Stecklein2,5†, Bruce F. Kimler3,4, Geetika Sethi2,6, Brian K. Petroff1,4, Teresa A. Phillips1,4, Ossama W. Tawfik2,5, Andrew K. Godwin2,5 and Roy A. Jensen2,5

*Correspondence: Priyanka Sharma psharma2@kumc.edu

These authors contributed equally to this work.

1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

Author Affiliations

2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

4. Breast Cancer Prevention Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

5. The University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

6. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Methylation of the BRCA1 promoter is frequent in triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) and results in a tumor phenotype similar to BRCA1-mutated tumors. BRCA1 mutation-associated cancers are more sensitive to DNA damaging agents as compared to conventional chemotherapy agents. It is not known if there is an interaction between the presence of BRCA1 promoter methylation (PM) and response to chemotherapy agents in sporadic TNBC. We sought to investigate the prognostic significance of BRCA1 PM in TNBC patients receiving standard chemotherapy.

Methods: Subjects with stage I-III TNBC treated with chemotherapy were identified and their formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimens retrieved. Genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR).

Results: DNA was isolated from primary tumor of 39 subjects. BRCA1 PM was detected in 30% of patients. Presence of BRCA1 PM was associated with lower BRCA1 transcript levels, suggesting epigenetic BRCA1 silencing. All patients received chemotherapy (anthracycline:90%, taxane:69%). At a median follow-up of 64 months, 46% of patients have recurred and 36% have died. On univariate analysis, African-American race, node positivity, stage, and BRCA1 PM were associated with worse RFS and OS. Five year OS was 36% for patients with BRCA1 PM vs. 77% for patients without BRCA1 PM (p=0.004). On multivariable analysis, BRCA1 PM was associated with significantly worse RFS and OS.

Conclusions: We show that BRCA1 PM is common in TNBC and has the potential to identify a significant fraction of TNBC patients who have suboptimal outcomes with standard chemotherapy.

Keywords: Triple negative breast cancer, BRCA1 promoter methylation, prognosis, chemosensitivity, biomarker

ISSN 2049-7962
Volume 3
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