J Breast Cancer.  2013 Mar;16(1):40-49.

STAT3, a Poor Survival Predicator, Is Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis from Breast Cancer

• Chen Y
• Wang J
• Wang X
• Liu X
• Li H
• Lv Q
• Zhu J
• Wei B
• Tang Y

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to explore signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression in breast cancer and to analyze the detailed mechanism that STAT3 contributes to the progression of breast cancer.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics and overall survival (OS) of 140 breast cancer patients after curative surgery, and detected STAT3 expression, phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) expression, Ki-67 expression, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and -D expression in breast cancer tissues, and adjacent nontumor tissues. Survival analysis and relationship analysis were adopted for demonstrated the important mechanism of STAT3 contribution to progression of breast cancer.
RESULTS
STAT3 expression, pSTAT3 expression, Ki-67 expression, VEGF-C expression, and VEGF-D expression in breast cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent nontumor tissues, respectively. With survival analysis, only number of lymph node metastasis (N stage) was identified as the independent predictors of the OS of breast cancer patients. Besides, we demonstrated there was the most prominent correlation between STAT3 expression and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer tissues by using the multinominal regression method.
CONCLUSION
STAT3, a poor survival biomarker potential association with lymph node metastasis, was suitable for predication the OS of breast cancer patients after curative resection.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Neoplasm metastasis; Prognosis; STAT3 transcription factor

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
STAT3 Transcription Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
STAT3 Transcription Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A) Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression in breast cancer tissue. (B) STAT3 expression in adjacent nontumor tissue. (C) pSTAT3 expression in breast cancer tissue. (D) pSTAT3 expression in adjacent nontumor tissue (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400).

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  Figure 2 (A) Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C expression in breast cancer tissue. (B) VEGF-C expression in adjacent nontumor tissue. (C) VEGF-D expression in breast cancer tissue. (D) VEGF-D expression in adjacent nontumor tissue (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400).

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  Figure 3 (A) Ki-67 expression in breast cancer tissue. (B) Ki-67 expression in adjacent nontumor tissue. (C) Estrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast cancer tissue. (D) ER expression in adjacent nontumor tissue (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400).

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  Figure 4 (A) Progesterone receptor (PR) expression in breast cancer tissue. (B) PR expression in adjacent nontumor tissue. (C) Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer tissue. (D) HER2 expression in adjacent nontumor tissue (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400).

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  Figure 5 Survival curve for 140 breast cancer patients after curative surgery according to stage subgroup. (A) N stage (the AJCC (American Joint Committee On Cancer)) TNM classification of breast cancer). (B) TNM stage (the International Union against Cancer TNM classification of breast cancer). (C) Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression. (D) Phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) expression. (E) Ki-67 expression.

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  Figure 6 Comparison mean values of lymph node metastatic counts of 140 breast cancer patients according to signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression.

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