Expression of Lamin A/C in early-stage breast cancer and its prognostic value

PurposeLamins A/C, a major component of the nuclear lamina, play key roles in maintaining nuclear integrity, regulation of gene expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Reduced lamin A/C expression in cancer has been reported to be a sign of poor prognosis. However, its clinical significance in breast cancer remains to be defined. This study aimed to evaluate expression and prognostic significance of lamin A/C in early-stage breast cancer.MethodsUsing immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays, expression of lamin A/C was evaluated in a large well-characterised series of early-stage operable breast cancer (n=938) obtained from Nottingham Primary Breast Carcinoma Series. Association of lamin A/C expression with clinicopathological parameters and outcome was evaluated.ResultsPositive expression rate of lamin A/C in breast cancer was 42.2% (n=398). Reduced/loss of expression of lamin A/C was significantly associated with high histological grade (p<0.001), larger tumour size (p=0.004), poor Nottingham Prognostic Index score (p<0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.014) and development of distant metastasis (p=0.027). Survival analysis showed that reduced/loss of expression of lamin A/C was significantly associated with shorter breast cancer-specific survival (p=0.008).ConclusionThis study suggests lamin A/C plays a role in breast cancer and loss of its expression is associated with variables of poor prognosis and shorter outcome.