The WID-BC-index identifies women with primary poor prognostic breast cancer based on DNA methylation in cervical samples

Genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to breast cancer development. An epigenome-based signature capturing these components in easily accessible samples could identify women at risk. Here, we analyse the DNA methylome in 2,818 cervical, 357 and 227 matched buccal and blood samples respectively, and 42 breast tissue samples from women with and without breast cancer. Utilising cervical liquid-based cytology samples, we develop the DNA methylation-based Women's risk IDentification for Breast Cancer index (WID-BC-index) that identifies women with breast cancer with an AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operator Characteristic) of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80-0.88) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76-0.86) in internal and external validation sets, respectively. CpGs at progesterone receptor binding sites hypomethylated in normal breast tissue of women with breast cancer or in BRCA mutation carriers are also hypomethylated in cervical samples of women with poor prognostic breast cancer. Our data indicate that a systemic epigenetic programming defect is highly prevalent in women who develop breast cancer. Further studies validating the WID-BC-index may enable clinical implementation for monitoring breast cancer risk. Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed via a needle biopsy. In this study, the authors show that cervical samples from women with breast cancer have a methylation signature different to that of healthy controls.

Automated summary

The study developed a DNA methylation-based index called WID-BC-index that can identify women with breast cancer using cervical samples, with high accuracy. The researchers also found that CpGs at progesterone receptor binding sites, which are hypomethylated in breast tissue of women with breast cancer, are also hypomethylated in cervical samples of women with poor prognostic breast cancer, indicating a systemic epigenetic programming defect prevalent in women who develop breast cancer. Validation of the WID-BC-index may have clinical implications in monitoring breast cancer risk.