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01-12-2021 | Breast Cancer | Research article

Hepatocyte growth factor pathway expression in breast cancer by race and subtype

Authors: Gieira S. Jones, Katherine A. Hoadley, Linnea T. Olsson, Alina M. Hamilton, Arjun Bhattacharya, Erin L. Kirk, Heather J. Tipaldos, Jodie M. Fleming, Michael I. Love, Hazel B. Nichols, Andrew F. Olshan, Melissa A. Troester

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

African American women have the highest risk of breast cancer mortality compared to other racial groups. Differences in tumor characteristics have been implicated as a possible cause; however, the tumor microenvironment may also contribute to this disparity in mortality. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a stroma-derived marker of the tumor microenvironment that may affect tumor progression differentially by race.

Objective

To examine whether an HGF gene expression signature is differentially expressed by race and tumor characteristics.

Methods

Invasive breast tumors from 1957 patients were assessed for a 38-gene RNA-based HGF gene expression signature. Participants were black (n = 1033) and non-black (n = 924) women from the population-based Carolina Breast Cancer Study (1993–2013). Generalized linear models were used to estimate the relative frequency differences (RFD) in HGF status by race, clinical, and demographic factors.

Results

Thirty-two percent of tumors were positive for the HGF signature. Black women were more likely [42% vs. 21%; RFD = + 19.93% (95% CI 16.00, 23.87)] to have HGF-positive tumors compared to non-black women. Triple-negative patients had a higher frequency of HGF positivity [82% vs. 13% in non-triple-negative; RFD = + 65.85% (95% CI 61.71, 69.98)], and HGF positivity was a defining feature of basal-like subtype [92% vs. 8% in non-basal; RFD = + 81.84% (95% CI 78.84, 84.83)]. HGF positivity was associated with younger age, stage, higher grade, and high genomic risk of recurrence (ROR-PT) score.

Conclusion

HGF expression is a defining feature of basal-like tumors, and its association with black race and young women suggests it may be a candidate pathway for understanding breast cancer disparities.

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Title: Hepatocyte growth factor pathway expression in breast cancer by race and subtype
Authors: Gieira S. Jones
Katherine A. Hoadley
Linnea T. Olsson
Alina M. Hamilton
Arjun Bhattacharya
Erin L. Kirk
Heather J. Tipaldos
Jodie M. Fleming
Michael I. Love
Hazel B. Nichols
Andrew F. Olshan
Melissa A. Troester
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Published in: Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-021-01460-5

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Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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