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.
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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)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Isoenzymes
- Receptors, Estrogen
- Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
- ALDH1A1 protein, human
- Retinal Dehydrogenase
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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
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