Matched analysis of circulating selenium with the breast cancer selenotranscriptome: a multicentre prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Low serum selenium and altered tumour RNA expression of certain selenoproteins are associated with a poor breast cancer prognosis. Selenoprotein expression stringently depends on selenium availability, hence circulating selenium may interact with tumour selenoprotein expression. However, there is no matched analysis to date. METHODS: This study included 1453 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer from the multicentric prospective Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast study. Total serum selenium, selenoprotein P and glutathione peroxidase 3 were analysed at time of diagnosis. Bulk RNA-sequencing was conducted in matched tumour tissues. Fully adjusted Cox regression models with an interaction term were employed to detect dose-dependent interactions of circulating selenium with the associations of tumour selenoprotein mRNA expression and mortality. RESULTS: 237 deaths were recorded within ~ 9 years follow-up. All three serum selenium biomarkers correlated positively (p < 0.001). All selenoproteins except for GPX6 were expressed in tumour tissues. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed a heterogeneous expression pattern in the tumour microenvironment. Circulating selenium correlated positively with tumour SELENOW and SELENON expression (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, the associations of DIO1, DIO3 and SELENOM with mortality were dose-dependently modified by serum selenium (p < 0.001, p = 0.020, p = 0.038, respectively). With increasing selenium, DIO1 and SELENOM associated with lower, whereas DIO3 expression associated with higher mortality. Association of DIO1 with lower mortality was only apparent in patients with high selenium [above median (70.36 µg/L)], and the HR (95%CI) for one-unit increase in log(FPKM + 1) was 0.70 (0.50-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This first unbiased analysis of serum selenium with the breast cancer selenotranscriptome identified an effect-modification of selenium on the associations of DIO1, SELENOM, and DIO3 with prognosis. Selenium substitution in patients with DIO1-expressing tumours merits consideration to improve survival.

Autoimmunity to selenoprotein P predicts breast cancer recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Low concentrations of serum selenium (Se) and its main transporter selenoprotein P (SELENOP) are associated with a poor prognosis following breast cancer diagnosis. Recently, natural autoantibodies (aAb) with antagonistic properties to SELENOP uptake have been identified in healthy subjects, and in patients with thyroid disease. Given the potential transport disrupting properties, we hypothesized that breast cancer patients with SELENOP-aAb may have a poor prognosis. METHODS: SELENOP-aAb along with serum Se, SELENOP and GPX3 activity were determined in serum samples of 1988 patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer enrolled in the multicentre SCAN-B study. Patients were followed for ∼9 years and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to assess hazard ratios. RESULTS: Applying a cut-off based on outlier detection, we identified 7.65% of patients with SELENOP-aAb. Autoantibody titres correlated positively to total Se and SELENOP concentrations, but not to GPX3 activity, supporting a negative role of SELENOP-aAb on Se transport. SELENOP-aAb were associated with age, but independent of tumor characteristics. After fully adjusting for potential confounders, SELENOP-aAb were associated with higher recurrence, HR(95%CI) = 1.87(1.17-2.99), particularly in patients with low Se concentrations, HR(95%CI) = 2.16(1.20-3.88). Associations of SELENOP-aAb with recurrence and mortality were linear and dose-dependent, with fully adjusted HR(95%CI) per log increase of 1.25(1.01-1.55) and 1.31(1.13-1.51), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a prognostic and pathophysiological relevance of SELENOP-aAb in breast cancer, with potential relevance for other malignancies. Assessment of SELENOP-aAb at time of diagnosis identifies patients with a distinctly elevated risk for a poor prognosis, independent of established prognostic factors, who may respond favourably to Se supplementation.

Serum selenium, selenoprotein P and glutathione peroxidase 3 as predictors of mortality and recurrence following breast cancer diagnosis: A multicentre cohort study.

The trace element selenium is of essential importance for the synthesis of a set of redox active proteins. We investigated three complementary serum selenium status biomarkers in relation to overall survival and recurrence following diagnosis of primary invasive breast cancer in a large prospective cohort study. The Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast Initiative (SCAN-B) is a prospective population-based study including multiple participating hospitals. Main analyses included 1996 patients with a new diagnosis of primary invasive breast cancer, with blood sampling at the time of diagnosis. In sera of the patients, total serum selenium, selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) activity was analysed. All three biomarkers showed a positive correlation (p < 0.001), supporting the high quality of samples and analytical techniques. During a total of 13,306 person years of follow-up, 310 deaths and 167 recurrent breast cancer events occurred. In fully adjusted Cox models, all three biomarkers correlated inversely with mortality (p trend <0.001) and compared with the lowest quintile, hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for overall survival in the highest quintile of selenium, SELENOP and GPx3 were 0.42 (0.28-0.63), 0.51 (0.36-0.73) and 0.52 (0.36-0.75), respectively. Low GPx3 activity was associated with more recurrences (Q5 vs Q1: fully adjusted HR (95%CI); 0.57 (0.35-0.92), (p trend = 0.005). Patients with low selenium status according to all three biomarkers (triple deficient) had the highest mortality risk with an overall survival probability of ∼50% after 8 years, in particular as compared to those having at least one marker in the highest quintile; fully adjusted HR (95%CI); 0.30 (0.21-0.43). Prediction of mortality based on all three biomarkers outperformed established tumour characteristics like histologic grade, number of involved lymph nodes or tumour size. An assessment of Se status at breast cancer diagnosis identifies patients at exceptionally high risk for a poor prognosis.

The Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast (SCAN-B) Initiative: a large-scale multicenter infrastructure towards implementation of breast cancer genomic analyses in the clinical routine.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer exhibits significant molecular, pathological, and clinical heterogeneity. Current clinicopathological evaluation is imperfect for predicting outcome, which results in overtreatment for many patients, and for others, leads to death from recurrent disease. Therefore, additional criteria are needed to better personalize care and maximize treatment effectiveness and survival. METHODS: To address these challenges, the Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast (SCAN-B) consortium was initiated in 2010 as a multicenter prospective study with longsighted aims to analyze breast cancers with next-generation genomic technologies for translational research in a population-based manner and integrated with healthcare; decipher fundamental tumor biology from these analyses; utilize genomic data to develop and validate new clinically-actionable biomarker assays; and establish real-time clinical implementation of molecular diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive tests. In the first phase, we focus on molecular profiling by next-generation RNA-sequencing on the Illumina platform. RESULTS: In the first 3 years from 30 August 2010 through 31 August 2013, we have consented and enrolled 3,979 patients with primary breast cancer at the seven hospital sites in South Sweden, representing approximately 85% of eligible patients in the catchment area. Preoperative blood samples have been collected for 3,942 (99%) patients and primary tumor specimens collected for 2,929 (74%) patients. Herein we describe the study infrastructure and protocols and present initial proof of concept results from prospective RNA sequencing including tumor molecular subtyping and detection of driver gene mutations. Prospective patient enrollment is ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that large-scale population-based collection and RNA-sequencing analysis of breast cancer is feasible. The SCAN-B Initiative should significantly reduce the time to discovery, validation, and clinical implementation of novel molecular diagnostic and predictive tests. We welcome the participation of additional comprehensive cancer treatment centers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02306096.

Targeting HMG-CoA reductase with statins in a window-of-opportunity breast cancer trial.

Lipophilic statins purportedly exert anti-tumoral effects on breast cancer by decreasing proliferation and increasing apoptosis. HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, is the target of statins. However, data on statin-induced effects on HMGCR activity in cancer are limited. Thus, this pre-operative study investigated statin-induced effects on tumor proliferation and HMGCR expression while analyzing HMGCR as a predictive marker for statin response in breast cancer treatment. The study was designed as a window-of-opportunity trial and included 50 patients with primary invasive breast cancer. High-dose atorvastatin (i.e., 80 mg/day) was prescribed to patients for 2 weeks before surgery. Pre- and post-statin paired tumor samples were analyzed for Ki67 and HMGCR immunohistochemical expression. Changes in the Ki67 expression and HMGCR activity following statin treatment were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. Up-regulation of HMGCR following atorvastatin treatment was observed in 68 % of the paired samples with evaluable HMGCR expression (P = 0.0005). The average relative decrease in Ki67 expression following atorvastatin treatment was 7.6 % (P = 0.39) in all paired samples, whereas the corresponding decrease in Ki67 expression in tumors expressing HMGCR in the pre-treatment sample was 24 % (P = 0.02). Furthermore, post-treatment Ki67 expression was inversely correlated to post-treatment HMGCR expression (rs = -0.42; P = 0.03). Findings from this study suggest that HMGCR is targeted by statins in breast cancer cells in vivo, and that statins may have an anti-proliferative effect in HMGCR-positive tumors. Future studies are needed to evaluate HMGCR as a predictive marker for the selection of breast cancer patients who may benefit from statin treatment.

Med1 plays a critical role in the development of tamoxifen resistance.

Understanding the molecular pathways that contribute to the development of tamoxifen resistance is a critical research priority as acquired tamoxifen resistance is the principal cause of poor prognosis and death of patients with originally good prognosis hormone-responsive breast tumors. In this report, we provide evidence that Med1, an important subunit of mediator coactivator complex, is spontaneously upregulated during acquired tamoxifen-resistance development potentiating agonist activities of tamoxifen. Phosphorylated Med1 and estrogen receptor (ER) are abundant in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells due to persistent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Mechanistically, phosphorylated Med1 exhibits nuclear accumulation, increased interaction with ER and higher tamoxifen-induced recruitment to ER-responsive promoters, which is abrogated by inhibition of Med1 phosphorylation. Stable knockdown of Med1 in tamoxifen-resistant cells not only reverses tamoxifen resistance in vitro but also in vivo. Finally, higher expression levels of Med1 in the tumor significantly correlated with tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer patients on adjuvant tamoxifen monotherapy. In silico analysis of breast cancer, utilizing published profiling studies showed that Med1 is overexpressed in aggressive subsets. These findings provide what we believe is the first evidence for a critical role for Med1 in tamoxifen resistance and identify this coactivator protein as an essential effector of the tamoxifen-induced breast cancer growth.