Assessment of CIP2A and ROCK-I expression and their prognostic value in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide. Identification of novel biomarkers for prognosis is required. Imunohistochemical evaluation of CIP2A and ROCK-1 expressions in 126 breast tissue specimens stratified as 21 ductal hyperplasias, 17 duct carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 88 invasive carcinomas (56 invasive ductal carcinomas NST, 32 invasive lobular carcinomas) was studied. High CIP2A expression was detected in 48.9% of invasive carcinomas. CIP2A overexpression was significantly related to Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) (p = 0.011), stage (p = 0.01), ER negativity (p = 0.031), PR negativity (p = 0.048), and HER-2 positivity (p = 0.02). CIP2A was significantly overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (p = 0.004). ROCK-1 expression was detected in 54.5% of invasive carcinomas. Statistically significant associations were observed between ROCK-1 expression and NPI (p = 0.032), stage (p = 0.002), ER negativity (p = 0.012), PR negativity (p = 0.023), HER-2 positivity (p = 0.016), and TNBC subtype (p = 0.033). A positive association between CIP2A and ROCK-1 expressions (p < 0.0001) was documented. There was a significant association between shorter overall survival and high CIP2A and positive ROCK-1 expressions (p < 0.0001) and (p < 0.0001). CIP2A and ROCK-1 expressions could be used as markers for the poor prognosis of breast cancer.

Keywords: CIP2A; ROCK-1; immunohistochemistry; prognosis.; breast cancer.