Prognostic Implications of MALAT1 and BACH1 Expression and Their Correlation with CTCs and Mo-MDSCs in Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Surgical Management Options

Samah Said Elbasateeny; Mahmoud Abdou Yassin; Mohamed Mahmoud Mokhtar; Adel Mohamed Ismail; Huda Fathy Ebian; Samia Hussein; Sherin Attia Shazly; Mai Mohammed Abdelwabab

doi:10.1155/2022/8096764

Prognostic Implications of MALAT1 and BACH1 Expression and Their Correlation with CTCs and Mo-MDSCs in Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Surgical Management Options

Int J Breast Cancer. 2022 Jan 19:2022:8096764. doi: 10.1155/2022/8096764. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Samah Said Elbasateeny¹, Mahmoud Abdou Yassin², Mohamed Mahmoud Mokhtar², Adel Mohamed Ismail³, Huda Fathy Ebian⁴, Samia Hussein⁵, Sherin Attia Shazly⁶, Mai Mohammed Abdelwabab¹

Affiliations

¹ Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
² General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
³ Surgical Oncology Department, Ismailia Teaching Oncology Hospital, Egypt.
⁴ Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
⁵ Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
⁶ Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a biologically separate entity of breast cancer that cannot get benefits from targeted or endocrine therapy.

Objective: To assess the expression of MALAT1 and BACH1, as well as monocyte-myeloid-derived suppressor cell (Mo-MDSC) levels and circulating tumor cell (CTC) count in TNBC to correlate these markers with the clinic-pathological criteria of TNCB patients and to evaluate their roles as predictive markers for selection of the patients that can be operated by oncoplastic conserving breast surgery.

Methods: Eighty-eight TNBC were managed by modified doughnut breast oncoplastic surgery in early stages and by modified radical mastectomy for patients with late stages unsuitable for breast-conserving. All were examined for MALAT1 and BACH1 expression by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR as well as Mo-MDSC levels and CTCs.

Results: MALAT1 and BACH1 expressions are correlated with the larger size, lymph node, distance metastasis, and TNM staging (p < 0.05). CTCs ≥ 5 and high MO-MDSCs were significantly more in TNBC with MALAT1 and BACH1 overexpression. The survival study proved that DFS for patients with both positive expression of MALAT1 and BACH1 was shorter than that of one positive expression, and both negative expression p ≤ 0.001, CTCs ≥ 5, and high Mo-MDSCs are associated with poor outcomes. No significant difference between modified round block and modified radical mastectomy techniques as regards recurrence. However, all postoperative management outcomes were significantly better in patients operated by oncoplastic conserving breast surgery.

Conclusion: BACH1 and MALAT1 expressions are significantly upregulated in TNBC. They are correlated with CTCs and Mo-MDCs, and all are associated with poor outcomes. Not all TNBC patients have a bad prognosis, patients negative for one of MALAT1 and BACH1 or both, have a slightly good prognosis, and so can be managed by breast oncoplastic conserving surgery.