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. 2025 Aug 5;16(1):1475.
doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-03358-6.

Causal relationships between immune cell traits and HER2 subtypes in breast cancer: a Mendelian randomization study

Fenfen Gu #  1 , Chuling Hu #  1 , Chao Li  2
Affiliations

Causal relationships between immune cell traits and HER2 subtypes in breast cancer: a Mendelian randomization study

Fenfen Gu et al. Discov Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer can be classified based on HER2 status into HER2-positive (HER2+) and HER2-negative (HER2-) subtypes, which differ significantly in pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment response. Immune cells are critical components of the tumor microenvironment, influencing breast cancer progression. However, their specific roles in HER2 + and HER2- breast cancer subtypes are not yet fully understood.

Methods: This study applied Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate causal relationships between 731 immune cell phenotypes and breast cancer with different HER2 statuses. Genetic data were obtained from the Finngen and OPENGWAS databases. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis and sensitivity tests were used to ensure the robustness of results.

Results: Our analysis revealed significant associations between specific immune cell traits and breast cancer subtypes. For instance, B cell traits such as "Sw mem %B cell" and "IgD- CD38- %B cell" were positively correlated with the development of HER2 + breast cancer. Conversely, traits associated with T cell maturation and myeloid cells demonstrated a negative correlation with HER2 + breast cancer. Regulatory T cell traits were more strongly linked to HER2- breast cancer.

Conclusions: Distinct immune cell profiles are associated with HER2 + and HER2- breast cancers. These findings provide insights into the immunological differences between subtypes and suggest potential targets for personalized immunotherapy strategies. Further research is required to clarify underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Breast cancer; HER2; Immune cells; Mendelian randomization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: The data we used were obtained from published studies approved by the corresponding ethics committee, thus no further ethical approval was required for this study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study Design and Workflow for Mendelian Randomization Analysis of Immune Cell Traits and HER2 Subtypes in Breast Cancer
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forward Mendelian Randomization Analysis Revealing the Link Between Immunophenotypes and HER2 + breast cancer Using Five Different MR Methods
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forward Mendelian Randomization Analysis Revealing the Link Between Immunophenotypes and HER2- breast cancer Using Five Different MR Methods
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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