Impact of cytotoxic chemotherapy on aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 expression

Abstract

Objective Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) is a protein that is produced and secreted by a significant number of breast cancers. However, a potential confounder to the use of AKR1B10 as a tumor marker is its elevation in patients given cytotoxic chemotherapy. We therefore conducted a prospective study to analyze AKR1B10 levels in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy. Methods The study enrolled 10 patients from November 2015 to July 2017. All patients had locally advanced, but non-metastatic, breast cancer, and they received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. Serum AKR1B10 levels and tumor imaging were assessed before, during, and after chemotherapy. Results No increase in serum AKR1B10 levels was noted in patients receiving chemotherapy whose levels were elevated at diagnosis. Conclusion The findings are complex, but the overall data suggest that AKR1B10 is suitable as a tumor marker in patients with elevated levels at the time of diagnosis.