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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Overexpression of synuclein-γ predicts lack of benefit from radiotherapy for breast cancer patients

Authors: Li Min, Cheng Zhang, Ruolan Ma, Xiaofan Li, Hua Yuan, Yihao Li, Ruxuan Chen, Caiyun Liu, Jianping Guo, Like Qu, Chengchao Shou

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Although radiotherapy following mastectomy was demonstrated to reduce the recurring risk and improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer, it is also notorious for comprehensive side effects, hence only a selected group of patients can benefit. Therefore, the screening of molecular markers capable of predicting the efficacy of radiotherapy is essential.

Methods

We have established a cohort of 454 breast cancer cases and selected 238 patients with indications for postoperative radiotherapy. Synuclein-γ (SNCG) protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and SNCG status was retrospectively correlated with clinical features and survival in patients treated or not treated with radiotherapy. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and survival analysis for online datasets were also performed for further validation.

Results

Among patients that received radiotherapy (82/238), those demonstrating positive SNCG expression had a 55.0 month shorter median overall survival (OS) in comparison to those demonstrating negative SNCG expression (78.4 vs. 133.4 months, log rank χ 2  = 16.13; p < 0.001). Among the patients that received no radiotherapy (156/238), SNCG status was not correlated with OS (log rank χ 2  = 2.40; p = 0.121). A COX proportional hazard analysis confirmed SNCG as an independent predictor of OS, only for patients who have received radiotherapy. Similar results were also obtained for distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). A GSEA analysis indicated that SNCG was strongly associated with genes related to a radiation stress response. A survival analysis was performed with online databases consisting of breast cancer, lung cancer, and glioblastoma and further confirmed SNCG’s significance in predicting the survival of patients that have received radiotherapy.

Conclusion

A positive SNCG may serve as a potential marker to identify breast cancer patients who are less likely to benefit from radiotherapy and may also be extended to other types of cancer. However, the role of SNCG in radiotherapy response still needs to be further validated in randomized controlled trials prior to being exploited in clinical practice.
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Metadata
Title
Overexpression of synuclein-γ predicts lack of benefit from radiotherapy for breast cancer patients
Authors
Li Min
Cheng Zhang
Ruolan Ma
Xiaofan Li
Hua Yuan
Yihao Li
Ruxuan Chen
Caiyun Liu
Jianping Guo
Like Qu
Chengchao Shou
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-016-2750-y

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