Expression of CPEB4 in invasive ductal breast carcinoma and its prognostic significance

Abstract

Hao-Ting Sun,1,2,* Xin Wen,3,* Tian Han,4,* Zhen-Hua Liu,5 Shao-Bo Li,1 Ji-Gang Wang,1 Xiu-Ping Liu61Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 2Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 3Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Canton, Guangdong Province, 4Key Lab of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 5Urology Department and Institute of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 6Department of Pathology, The Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workAims: Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins (CPEBs) are RNA-binding proteins that regulate translation by inducing cytoplasmic polyadenylation. CPEB4 has been reported in association with tumor growth, vascularization, and invasion in several cancers. To date, the expression of CPEB4 with clinical prognosis of breast cancer was never reported before. We aim to investigate the expression of CPEB4 and its prognostic significance in invasive ductal breast carcinoma.Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of CPEB4 and estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor was performed in 107 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) samples, and prognostic significance was evaluated.Results: High expression of CPEB4 was observed in 48.6% of IDC samples. Elevated CPEB4 expression was possibly related to increased histological grading (P=0.037) and N stage (P<0.001). Patients with high expression of CPEB4 showed shorter overall survival (P=0.001). High CPEB4 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P=0.022, hazard ratio =4.344, 95% confidence interval =1.235–15.283).Conclusion: High CPEB4 expression is associated with increased histological grading and N stage, and it can serve as an independent prognostic factor in IDC.Keywords: cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 4, invasive ductal carcinoma, immunohistochemistry, prognosis