Dae-Won Lee , Han Suk Ryu , Ilias P. Nikas , Jiwon Koh , Tae-Yong Kim , Hong Kyu Kim , Han-Byoel Lee , Hyeong-Gon Moon , Wonshik Han , Kyung-Hun Lee , Seock-Ah Im
{"title":"Immune marker expression and prognosis of early breast cancer expressing HER3","authors":"Dae-Won Lee , Han Suk Ryu , Ilias P. Nikas , Jiwon Koh , Tae-Yong Kim , Hong Kyu Kim , Han-Byoel Lee , Hyeong-Gon Moon , Wonshik Han , Kyung-Hun Lee , Seock-Ah Im","doi":"10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115081","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>There is a strong rationale for targeting HER3, as HER3 contributes to tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. However, the prognostic role of HER3 and their association with immunoregulatory protein expression has not been established.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The main objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of HER3 expression and identify immunoregulatory marker expression according to HER3 status. HER3 expression and 10 immunoregulatory protein (PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2/IDO/TIM-3/OX40/OX40L/B7-H2/B7-H3/B7-H4) expression was identified in 320 stage I-III breast cancer patients who received curative surgery at Seoul National University Hospital in 2008. The median follow-up duration was 88.8 months. Criteria for HER3 IHC was adopted from HER2 IHC score and only those with 3 + was considered positive.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 320 patients, 213 (67.2 %) had luminal A disease, 30 (9.5 %) had luminal B disease, 28 (8.8 %) had HER2-positive disease, and 46 (14.5 %) had triple negative disease. HER3 expression was shown in 153 patients (47.8 %). Tumors with HER3-expression had more immunogenic tumor microenvironment compared to HER3-negative tumor. In addition, patients with HER3 expression had favorable 5-year relapse free survival compared to HER3-negative patients (5-year RFS 92.5 % <em>vs.</em> 85.2 %, <em>p</em> = 0.038). However, in the multivariate analysis, HER3 expression was not a prognostic factor, but expression of immunoregulatory protein was a prognostic factor.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study identified immunoregulatory protein expression according to HER3 status in breast cancer patients. As tumor with HER3 expression have more immunogenic microenvironment, investigating combination treatment of HER3 targeting agent and immunotherapy in HER3 expressing breast cancer may be promising.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11980,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Cancer","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 115081"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Journal of Cancer","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959804924012127","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
There is a strong rationale for targeting HER3, as HER3 contributes to tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. However, the prognostic role of HER3 and their association with immunoregulatory protein expression has not been established.
Methods
The main objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of HER3 expression and identify immunoregulatory marker expression according to HER3 status. HER3 expression and 10 immunoregulatory protein (PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2/IDO/TIM-3/OX40/OX40L/B7-H2/B7-H3/B7-H4) expression was identified in 320 stage I-III breast cancer patients who received curative surgery at Seoul National University Hospital in 2008. The median follow-up duration was 88.8 months. Criteria for HER3 IHC was adopted from HER2 IHC score and only those with 3 + was considered positive.
Results
Among 320 patients, 213 (67.2 %) had luminal A disease, 30 (9.5 %) had luminal B disease, 28 (8.8 %) had HER2-positive disease, and 46 (14.5 %) had triple negative disease. HER3 expression was shown in 153 patients (47.8 %). Tumors with HER3-expression had more immunogenic tumor microenvironment compared to HER3-negative tumor. In addition, patients with HER3 expression had favorable 5-year relapse free survival compared to HER3-negative patients (5-year RFS 92.5 % vs. 85.2 %, p = 0.038). However, in the multivariate analysis, HER3 expression was not a prognostic factor, but expression of immunoregulatory protein was a prognostic factor.
Conclusions
This study identified immunoregulatory protein expression according to HER3 status in breast cancer patients. As tumor with HER3 expression have more immunogenic microenvironment, investigating combination treatment of HER3 targeting agent and immunotherapy in HER3 expressing breast cancer may be promising.
期刊介绍:
The European Journal of Cancer (EJC) serves as a comprehensive platform integrating preclinical, digital, translational, and clinical research across the spectrum of cancer. From epidemiology, carcinogenesis, and biology to groundbreaking innovations in cancer treatment and patient care, the journal covers a wide array of topics. We publish original research, reviews, previews, editorial comments, and correspondence, fostering dialogue and advancement in the fight against cancer. Join us in our mission to drive progress and improve outcomes in cancer research and patient care.