B7-H3 on circulating epithelial tumor cells correlates with the proliferation marker, Ki-67, and may be associated with the aggressiveness of tumors in breast cancer patients

  • Authors:
    • Monika Pizon
    • Dorothea Sonja Schott
    • Ulrich Pachmann
    • Katharina Pachmann
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  • Published online on: September 4, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4551
  • Pages: 2289-2299
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Abstract

Circulating epithelial tumor cells (CETCs) in peripheral blood are a prerequisite for the development of metastases. B7-H3 is an important immune checkpoint member of the B7 family and inhibits T-cell mediated antitumor immunity. Its expression is associated with a negative prognosis and a poor clinical outcome. Based on the clinical success of inhibitory immune checkpoint blockade, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against B7-H3 appear to be a promising therapeutic strategy. The proliferation biomarker, Ki-67, is used as a prognostic factor for breast cancer and reflects the proliferative potential of the tumor. In order to better understand the role of B7-H3 and Ki-67 in cancer development, in this study, we used a real-time biopsy for determining both biomarkers on CETCs in breast cancer patients. Blood from 50 patients suffering from breast cancer was analyzed for CETCs and the expression of B7-H3 and Ki-67 using the maintrac® method. B7-H3 expression on CETCs was found in 82% of the patients. The frequency of B7-H3- and Ki-67‑positive CETCs was significantly higher in patients who had received radiation therapy compared to patients who had not received irradiation. B7-H3‑positive CETCs seemed to be more aggressive as the percentage of B7-H3‑positive CETCs correlated with the percentage of cells positive for the proliferation marker, Ki-67 (r=0.72 P<0.001). A significant association between the Ki-67 and B7-H3 expression level on the CETCs and nodal status was observed. On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that breast cancer patients have detectable CETCs with a high frequency of B7-H3 expression regardless of the stage of the disease. B7-H3 seems to be an important factor in immune evasion and may thus be a promising target for anticancer therapies. Radiation may lead to an upregulation of B7-H3 expression on CETCs, which could be a possible mechanism of acquired radio-resistance.
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November-2018
Volume 53 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Pizon M, Schott D, Pachmann U and Pachmann K: B7-H3 on circulating epithelial tumor cells correlates with the proliferation marker, Ki-67, and may be associated with the aggressiveness of tumors in breast cancer patients. Int J Oncol 53: 2289-2299, 2018
APA
Pizon, M., Schott, D., Pachmann, U., & Pachmann, K. (2018). B7-H3 on circulating epithelial tumor cells correlates with the proliferation marker, Ki-67, and may be associated with the aggressiveness of tumors in breast cancer patients. International Journal of Oncology, 53, 2289-2299. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4551
MLA
Pizon, M., Schott, D., Pachmann, U., Pachmann, K."B7-H3 on circulating epithelial tumor cells correlates with the proliferation marker, Ki-67, and may be associated with the aggressiveness of tumors in breast cancer patients". International Journal of Oncology 53.5 (2018): 2289-2299.
Chicago
Pizon, M., Schott, D., Pachmann, U., Pachmann, K."B7-H3 on circulating epithelial tumor cells correlates with the proliferation marker, Ki-67, and may be associated with the aggressiveness of tumors in breast cancer patients". International Journal of Oncology 53, no. 5 (2018): 2289-2299. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4551