Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy最新文献

{"title":"LINC01128 Affects Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression Through Targeting miR-32-5p.","authors":"Min Xiong, Quanjun Yang, Le Cheng, Lili Yu, Yili Hu","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S596228","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S596228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To clarify the expression and clinical significance of LINC01128 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), investigate whether it regulates the biological behaviors of TNBC cells by targeting miR-32-5p via the ceRNA mechanism, and explore new therapeutic targets.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues from 76 TNBC patients were collected, and the patients' clinicopathological data were gathered. Experiments were conducted using the human normal breast epithelial cell line MCF-12F and multiple TNBC cell lines. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to detect the relative expressions of LINC01128 and miR-32-5p; dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeted binding relationship between the two. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration abilities, respectively. Target gene prediction and GO/KEGG enrichment analyses were carried out by combining databases such as miRDB and miRWalk.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LINC01128 was highly expressed in TNBC tissues and cells (P<0.01), and its high expression was an independent risk factor for advanced TNBC (OR=6.635, P=0.001). miR-32-5p was lowly expressed in TNBC (P<0.01) and showed a significant negative correlation with LINC01128 (r=-0.699, P<0.001), with a direct targeted binding between the two. LINC01128 promoted TNBC cell proliferation and migration and inhibited apoptosis by suppressing miR-32-5p (all P<0.01). The target genes of miR-32-5p were enriched in tumor-related pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>LINC01128 is highly expressed in TNBC and promotes tumor progression by targeting and suppressing miR-32-5p via the ceRNA mechanism, which can serve as a potential molecular marker and therapeutic target for TNBC.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"596228"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13096830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147762132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HER2 Overexpression in Invasive Breast Carcinoma in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its Association with Selected Clinicopathological Characteristics.","authors":"Guy Ilunga Nday, Manix Ilunga Banza, Anastasie Ngalula Umpungu, Michel Kabamba Nzaji, Jules Ngwe Thaba Moyambe","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S600288","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S600288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and HER2 overexpression identifies a subgroup of tumors associated with aggressive behavior and targeted therapy response. Although HER2 expression has been widely studied worldwide and in some African countries, data remain limited in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where access to molecular diagnostic techniques is still restricted.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to determine the frequency of HER2 protein overexpression and its association with clinicopathological characteristics of breast carcinoma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to provide local evidence to support diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study from 2014 to 2016 in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi including 86 invasive breast carcinoma cases. HER2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and scored according to standard guidelines. Associations were analyzed using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HER2 overexpression was observed in 25.6% of cases. No statistically significant association was found between HER2 status and age, tumor size, histological type, tumor grade, or estrogen receptor status. The absence of statistical significance may be related to the limited sample size.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Approximately one quarter of breast carcinomas showed HER2 overexpression in this Congolese population. These findings support the importance of routine HER2 testing in breast cancer management in resource-limited settings. Although no statistically significant associations were found, this study provides additional data on HER2 expression in the Congolese context and highlights the need for larger studies with longer study periods to better assess clinicopathological associations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"600288"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13092236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147728292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capecitabine versus Paclitaxel After CDK4/6 Inhibitor Progression in Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Real-World Study.","authors":"Zeliha Birsin, Ali Kaan Güren, Vali Aliyev, Murad Guliyev, Seda Jeral, Selin Cebeci, Emir Çerme, Murat Günaltılı, Hamza Abbasov, Ebru Çiçek, Süheyla Atak, Murat Sarı, Nebi Serkan Demirci, Özkan Alan","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S598598","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S598598","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy represent the standard first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. However, optimal chemotherapy selection after progression on CDK4/6i remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of capecitabine versus paclitaxel in a real-world post-CDK4/6i setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective two-center study included HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients who experienced disease progression after CDK4/6i therapy and subsequently received either capecitabine or paclitaxel. Paclitaxel was administered at a dose of 80 mg/m² weekly, while capecitabine was given at 1000-1250 mg/m² twice daily on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 115 patients were included, of whom 68 (59%) received capecitabine and 47 (41%) received paclitaxel. Baseline clinicopathological characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The median follow-up was 48.3 months. Median PFS was 5.45 months in the capecitabine group and 6.53 months in the paclitaxel group (p = 0.622). Median OS was 42.2 and 43.1 months, respectively (p = 0.299). Treatment type was not independently associated either PFS or OS. Visceral metastasis after CDK4/6i progression independently predicted shorter PFS (HR 1.62, p = 0.042), whereas higher tumor grade was associated with inferior OS (HR 1.82, p = 0.018). Treatment-related toxicities differed between regimens: paclitaxel was predominantly associated with neuropathy and hematologic toxicity, whereas capecitabine was primarily associated with hand-foot syndrome and gastrointestinal toxicity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Capecitabine and paclitaxel demonstrated comparable efficacy after CDK4/6i progression, with no significant differences in PFS or OS. Given their distinct toxicity profiles, treatment selection should be individualized according to patient characteristics and tolerability.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"598598"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13092254/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147728315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single-Cell Profiling Reveals a Treg-Rich, NK Cell-Depleted Immune Microenvironment in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer with High-Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression.","authors":"Joshua Behar, Christine Shiang, Deniz Nesli Dolcen, Lynda B Bennett, Andrew W DeVilbiss, Margarite D Matossian, Isaac S Chan, Rita Nanda, Suzanne D Conzen, John T Lafin","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S569936","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S569936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Analyses of patients with early-stage, treatment-naïve triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have demonstrated that high glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in primary tumors is associated with poor prognosis. We previously observed that GR-high primary TNBCs exhibited significantly increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) compared with GR-low tumors. To further investigate GR-associated immunologic features, we leveraged imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to profile additional immune cell phenotypes and spatial architecture in GR-high versus GR-low primary TNBC.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were profiled in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) core biopsies from five untreated GR-high and four GR-low TNBC tumors using IMC with a 21-antibody panel. Regions of interest (ROI) were selected within pan-cytokeratin-positive tumor nests. Data underwent unsupervised clustering, and cell types were identified based on protein expression profiles. Analyses compared cell-type abundance and spatial interactions in GR-high versus GR-low tumors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GR-high tumors exhibited significantly greater Treg infiltration within tumor nests than GR-low tumors. GR-high TNBC also showed a comparatively greater abundance of activated memory CD8+ T cells, cytotoxic CD4+ T cells, and effector memory CD4+ T cells. In contrast, GR-low tumors exhibited relatively greater representation of HLA-ABC-positive (HLA-ABC+) cancer cells as well as early-activated dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer (NK) cells. Spatial analysis revealed that Tregs in GR-high tumors colocalized more frequently with proliferating tumor cells relative to Tregs in GR-low tumors. NK cells in GR-high tumors displayed relatively less colocalization with proliferating tumor cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Compared with GR-low disease, treatment-naïve GR-high primary TNBC exhibits a more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment characterized by greater Treg density, closer Treg-cancer cell proximity, reduced NK cell infiltration, impaired immune surveillance, and decreased abundance of HLA-ABC+ cancer cells. These findings implicate TNBC cell GR signaling as immunosuppressive, likely through mechanisms resulting in both differential immune cell enrichment and altered spatial organization.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"569936"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13091597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adjuvant Weekly Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab for HER2-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer with Preserved Baseline LVEF: Incidence of Cardiotoxicity and Feasibility of Simplified Cardiac Surveillance.","authors":"Akira Tsunoda, Toshiro Mizuno, Shiro Nakamori, Mizuki Ichikawa, Yasutaka Tono, Kanako Saito, Isao Tawara","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S596107","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S596107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The incidence of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity is low among patients receiving regimens that do not include anthracyclines. We aimed to examine whether cardiac monitoring during paclitaxel and trastuzumab therapy can be simplified in a strictly defined low-risk population.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We both retrospectively and prospectively assessed the cardiotoxicity incidence among patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab, excluding those with major cardiotoxicity risk factors such as a low baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). First, records of patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer treated during 2015-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab followed by trastuzumab; and (2) a baseline LVEF ≥55%. Second, patients considered suitable for simplified monitoring were prospectively enrolled. Inclusion criteria were a baseline LVEF ≥60%, age ≤65 years, and body mass index <30 kg/m². Cardiac function was evaluated every 3 months by using global longitudinal strain (GLS), cardiac biomarkers, and the LVEF.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-six patients were included in the retrospective study. No patients developed symptomatic cardiotoxicity (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%-5.5%). Three patients (4.5%; 95% CI, 1.5%-12.5%) had an asymptomatic LVEF decline, and all 66 completed the treatment. In the prospective pilot cohort, 9 patients completed therapy, and none developed cardiotoxicity (95% CI, 0%-29.9%). The median change in the LVEF at 12 months was -5% (range, -12% to -3%), and that in GLS was +2.15% (-5.5% to +8.3%). No changes in the LVEF or GLS that required treatment interruption occurred, and cardiac biomarkers remained normal.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Among patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer who received paclitaxel and trastuzumab, had a preserved baseline LVEF, and had no anthracycline exposure, the cardiotoxicity incidence was low, suggesting that cardiac monitoring may be simplified in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"596107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13089467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging Clinical Trials to Real-World Clinical Practice: TCHP Neoadjuvant Therapy Outcomes in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.","authors":"Baha Sharaf, Alaa Seif, Hira Bani Hani, Maha Alhasan, Rnad Khader, Maram Al-Yag'oub, Ameed Ghanem, Jinan Bani Ata, Batool Ajlouni, Qutaiba Jawarneh, Adel Jaffal, Faris Tamimi, Sharif Jehad, Haneen Al-Abdallat, Osama Mahafdah, Hikmat Abdel-Razeq","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S559555","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S559555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is standard for HER2-positive breast cancer (HER2+ BC). The TCHP regimen (docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab, pertuzumab) demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials; however, real-world evidence remains limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of TCHP in routine clinical practice at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 161 patients with HER2+ BC who received at least one cycle of TCHP between January 2022 and October 2024. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0/is, ypN0). Secondary endpoints included safety, emergency room (ER) visits, and hospitalization rates. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of pCR, reporting odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort included 160 females and one male, with a median age of 51 years (24-80). Most patients were ER/PR-positive (73.9%), and 26.1% were ER/PR-negative. Tumors were predominantly high-grade (grade 3 in 106 patients), with nodal involvement in 95 patients. Surgical resection was performed in 143 patients. pCR was achieved in 45.5% of patients. HER2 IHC 3+ expression (adjusted OR 11.76; 95% CI 3.69-54.00; p<0.001) and ER/PR-negative status (adjusted OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.09-6.50; p=0.035) were independent predictors of pCR, while tumor stage and nodal status, were not. No cardiac toxicity or ejection fraction decline was observed. Anti-HER2 therapy was discontinued in six patients, and 11 did not complete six cycles. Chemotherapy dose reductions occurred in 38 patients, mainly due to hematologic toxicity. A median of three ER visits per patient was recorded, with hospitalization required in 42 patients, primarily for neutropenic fever and diarrhea.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this real‑world cohort, TCHP achieved a moderate pCR rate (45.5%), lower than clinical trial reports, with HER2 IHC 3+ and ER/PR‑negative status predicting response, but substantial toxicity-including frequent emergency visits and hospitalization, highlighting the need for improved patient selection, strengthened supportive care, and consideration of de‑escalation strategies to maintain efficacy while reducing morbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"559555"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13075438/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147688302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Factors Related to Lymph Node Metastasis Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Correlation Between Plasma Exosomal Circular RNA and Metastasis.","authors":"Sushuang Ma, Yanqiu Huang, Qingyan Yang, Xiaoyan Liu, Zhiqiang Zhang, Bing Yan","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S588196","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S588196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the correlation between plasma exosomal circular RNA (circRNA) (non-invasive, dynamically monitorable) and lymph node metastasis following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer and highlight its predictive superiority over traditional serum markers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The clinicopathological data and follow-up data of 487 patients with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy in our hospital between 1 January 2018 and 1 January 2020 were retrospectively collected using convenience sampling. Following screening, 379 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the analysis. The patients' data, including age, clinical TNM stage, tumour pathological type, tumour histological grade, tumour molecular typing, neoadjuvant regimen and course of treatment, were collected for analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Log rank test results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups in molecular typing (χ² = 46.058, P < 0.001), neoadjuvant regimen (χ² = 10.996, P < 0.001), axillary surgery (χ² = 4.267, P = 0.039), histological grade (χ² = 32.280, P < 0.001) and pathological complete response (pCR) (χ² = 18.993, P < 0.001). The <i>t</i>-test results showed that the circRNA level was higher in the metastatic group than in the non-metastatic group (8.55 ± 2.12 vs 3.70 ± 1.81, <i>t</i> = 22.868, P < 0.001). The results of regression analysis showed that non-pCR (odds ratio [OR] = 2.320, 95% CI: 1.259-4.276), molecular subtype HER2+ (OR = 1.747, 95% CI: 1.070-2.852), histological grade II (OR = 3.159, 95% CI: 1.537-6.491), histological grade III (OR = 2.606, 95% CI: 1.242-5.466) and circRNA expression level (OR = 1.497, 95% CI: 1.398-1.602) were risk factors for postoperative metastasis in patients with breast cancer. The level of circRNA has predictive value for the occurrence of postoperative metastasis in breast cancer. The area under the curve was 0.955 (95% CI: 0.933-0.976), with a sensitivity of 87.4% and a specificity of 91.9%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Molecular typing, pCR status, histological grade and plasma exosomal circRNA expression level are independent predictors of recurrence and metastasis following neoadjuvant therapy. Notably, plasma exosomal circRNA, with its non-invasive and dynamic monitoring advantages, shows promising predictive potential for lymph node metastasis, providing a novel and superior clinical tool for prognosis assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"588196"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13075415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147688291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supportive Intervention for Unmet Needs Among Breast Cancer Patients and Their Spousal Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Qian Zhang, Shan Wang, Jiajia Zhang, Tianyu Chu, Xian Chen, Linlin Ma, Hui Zhou, Yibo Wu, Dewu Xu, Kai Jiang","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S585827","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S585827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a supportive intervention program designed based on Existence-Relatedness-Growth theory and the Supportive Care Needs Framework in reducing unmet needs among breast cancer patients and their spouse caregivers.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This study was a two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial. Between December 2024 and August 2025, 122 breast cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University and randomly assigned to an intervention or control group (61 dyads each). The intervention group received a 6-week dyadic supportive care program targeting unmet needs, delivered by the principal investigator in weekly 60-minute sessions. The control group received routine care. Primary outcome was unmet needs; secondary outcomes included communication problems, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Linear mixed models analyzed the primary outcome, while multilevel models evaluated intervention effects on secondary outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 111 breast cancer patient-spouse caregiver dyads completed the intervention (56 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group). Linear mixed model analysis showed that the intervention reduced unmet needs in breast cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads over time compared with the control group (group × time interaction: <i>β</i>=-4.90, <i>p</i><0.001). Patients and spousal caregivers exhibited different trajectories of unmet needs over time (time × role interaction: <i>β</i>=3.71, <i>p</i>=0.004). Multilevel model analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in couple communication problems, quality of life, anxiety, and depression (all <i>p</i><0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The unmet needs supportive intervention program for breast cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads can effectively reduce unmet needs and enhance couple communication, thereby improving their quality of life and alleviating anxiety and depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"585827"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13070328/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peripheral Blood IL-6 and STAT3 Gene Expression as Biomarkers Associated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Kayhan Özdemir, Ali Muhtaroğlu, Muhammet Burak Kamburoğlu, Gamze Guney Eskiler, Zeynep Özman Gökçe, Belma Kocer","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S593138","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S593138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited targeted treatment options. Blood-based biomarkers that might help predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remain lacking. We examined whether pre-treatment peripheral blood expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was associated with clinicopathological features and NAC response in TNBC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cross-sectional study included 20 patients with TNBC and 10 healthy controls. Whole-blood RNA was isolated using Trizol, reverse-transcribed to cDNA, and analysed by RT-qPCR with TaqMan^® Gene Expression Assays. Relative expression was calculated with the Livak (2^-ΔΔCT) method using GAPDH as the housekeeping gene. Clinicopathological variables and pathological response assessed by the Miller-Payne system were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the control group, IL-6 and STAT3 expression levels were significantly elevated in patients with TNBC by 8.9-fold (<i>p</i>=0.001) and 25.1-fold (<i>p</i>=0.001), respectively. Higher levels of IL-6 and STAT3 expression were associated with adverse pathological features, including lymphovascular invasion, poor tumour differentiation, and reduced rates of complete pathological response. ROC analysis showed modest discriminatory performance for both markers. The AUC for IL‑6 was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.50-0.86) and for STAT3 was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.53-0.91).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this pilot cohort, higher peripheral blood IL-6 and STAT3 expression was associated with unfavourable clinicopathological features in TNBC. These findings suggest that the IL-6/STAT3 axis may have value within broader predictive biomarker panels, although larger prospective studies are needed before any clinical application is considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"593138"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13070401/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IFI44 Orchestrates an IL-10-Driven M2 Macrophage Program in Breast Cancer: An Immune Prognostic Signature.","authors":"Jiahui Wu, Wang Yi, Mengting Liu, Yingliang Li, Boxuan Zhou, Ziyun Wu, Wei Cao, Qingfeng Shi, Xiangkai Cai, Haiwei Xiong","doi":"10.2147/BCTT.S579301","DOIUrl":"10.2147/BCTT.S579301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although IFI44 is recognized for its crucial role in autoimmune disorders, its function in breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the immune-related and prognostic significance of IFI44 in BC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Bio-informatics analysis and in vitro experiments were performed to assess BC cells' proliferation, migration, and invasion. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms. The correlation between IFI44 and M2 macrophage markers was validated via TIMER2 and GEPIA2 databases. An IFI44-related M2 macrophage signature (IMS) was constructed using LASSO Cox regression. Its prognostic performance and association with immunotherapy/chemotherapy response were evaluated using survival analysis, ROC curves, and drug sensitivity data (GDSC2).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IFI44 was highly expressed in BC and associated with poor prognosis. Down-regulation of IFI44 BC cells inhibited M2 macrophages proliferation, but exogenous IL-10 in the knockdown-IFI44 BC cells rescued this reduction in vitro. The constructed IMS, based on four genes (GPR171, KIR2DS4, NPAS1, CD79A), effectively predicted the overall survival (OS) of BC patients with high specificity and sensitivity. Of note, the IMS was applied in pan-cancer and we found it could accurately predict the prognosis and immune score in multiple cancers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IFI44 promotes BC progression and M2 macrophage infiltration via an IL-10-mediated mechanism. IFI44 represents a promising target for immunotherapy in breast cancer. Our investigation identified that IFI44-based IMS provides a predictive scenario to determine the treatment and prognosis of cancer patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":9106,"journal":{"name":"Breast Cancer : Targets and Therapy","volume":"18 ","pages":"579301"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13071160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147687383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}