Exploring the Role of CDO1 in Breast Cancer: Insights into Tumor Biology and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease with variable prognosis, highlighting the need for novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This study investigates the role of the CDO1 gene, which encodes cysteine dioxygenase 1, in BC progression and its potential impact on patient outcomes.

Materials and methods: We performed stable transfection of CDO1 in the MDA-MB231 triple negative BC (TNBC) cell line, followed by analysis of gene expression profiles using microarray technology.

Results: CDO1 is significantly upregulated in transfected cells, leading to the induction of several tumor suppressor genes, including DEFB1, HOPX, and FRMD3. Correlation analysis in clinical BC samples revealed significant associations between CDO1 and other key genes, including SLC1A7 and KITLG, underscoring its relevance in tumor biology. Functional assays demonstrated that CDO1 expression is associated with increased apoptosis and reduced cell viability, suggesting a protective role against tumor progression. Additionally, we observed alterations in oncogenic pathways related to extracellular matrix and protease (SGRN and ADAMTS1), indicating that CDO1 may alleviate metastatic potential putatively via stromal reprogramming.

Conclusions: Our findings establish CDO1 as a significant modulator of BC behavior and highlight its potential as a biomarker for prognosis. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the therapeutic implications of targeting CDO1 in TNBC.

Keywords: Breast cancer; CDO1; Triple negative type.