Loss of Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein 2 Expression Is Associated with Aggressiveness and Poor Overall Survival in Patients with Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Single-stranded DNA binding protein 2 (SSBP2) is involved in the DNA damage response and the maintenance of genome stability. Previous studies have suggested that SSBP2 has a tumor suppressor function or oncogenic function. Loss of SSBP2 expression has been reported in various tumors. However, the role of SSBP2 expression in invasive breast carcinoma has not been reported. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for SSBP2 was performed on tissue microarrays consisting of 491 invasive breast carcinoma cases. The result of nuclear SSBP2 staining was stratified as either negative or positive. Then, we investigated the correlations between SSBP2 expression and various clinicopathological parameters and patient outcomes. Results: Loss of nuclear SSBP2 expression was observed in 61 cases (12.4%) of 491 invasive breast carcinomas. Loss of nuclear SSBP2 expression was significantly correlated with larger tumor size (p p = 0.016, Cochran–Armitage trend test), higher pathological T stage (p p p SSBP2 expression had worse overall survival (p = 0.013, log-rank test). However, loss of nuclear SSBP2 expression was not correlated with recurrence-free survival (p = 0.175, log-rank test). Conclusions: Loss of nuclear SSBP2 expression was associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics and poor patient outcomes. SSBP2 acts as a tumor suppressor in invasive breast carcinoma and may be used as a prognostic biomarker.

Keywords

• single-stranded DNA binding protein 2
• invasive breast carcinoma
• prognosis