ALDH1 expression is enriched in breast cancers arising in young women but does not predict outcome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tumours arising in younger women appear to be biologically more aggressive and tend to have a poorer outcome. Being relatively resistant to conventional treatments, breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been postulated as a possible cause of disease recurrence after treatment. In this study, we used ALDH1 as a CSC marker and determined whether ALDH1 expression correlated with clinical outcome in young women with breast cancer.

METHODS:

The expression of ALDH1 was evaluated through immunohistochemistry on microarrayed cores obtained from 141 consecutive patients up to 35 years of age.

RESULTS:

The expression of ALDH1 was observed in 25% (35 of 141) of tumours, in a median of 5% of cells. Younger women were 14 times more likely to have ALDH1-positive tumours (P<0.01, OR 14.4, 95% CI 4.34-48.09). The ALDH1 correlated independently with ER negativity (P=0.01, OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.15-0.77). There was no correlation with disease recurrence or breast cancer-related deaths.

CONCLUSION:

In younger women, ALDH1 was more highly expressed, and it correlated with ER negativity. It, however, did not predict survival in this study.

• Authors: E Y Tan, A A Thike, Breast Surgical Team at Outram, P H Tan
• Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer) Vol. 109 Issue 1 Pg. 109-13 (Jul 09 2013) ISSN: 1532-1827 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23787917 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Isoenzymes
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
• ALDH1A1 protein, human
• Retinal Dehydrogenase

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (enzymology, mortality)
• Female
• Humans
• Isoenzymes (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (metabolism)
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Retinal Dehydrogenase (metabolism)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult