Content area
Full Text
Introduction
Cancer is a life-threatening disease that results from complex physiological and pathological processes. It imposes significant physical and emotional burdens on patients and families and adds economic and social strain [1]. The lack of accurate molecular markers for early diagnosis and prognosis contributes to high mortality, especially in less developed countries [2]. Breast cancer (BRCA) has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common malignancy worldwide, representing one-fourth of cancer cases and one-sixth of cancer-related deaths among women. Its incidence is widespread, with mortality rates higher than other cancers in half of the affected countries [3, 4–5]. In China, breast cancer accounts for 12.2% of global cases and 9.6% of cancer-related deaths [6]. While the mortality rate for breast cancer has declined by 40% over the past three decades, this progress has slowed in recent years [7]. Breast cancer is complex, with diverse molecular features and subtypes, making it challenging to achieve consistent treatment outcomes. Some patients may not experience significant survival benefits despite existing therapies [8, 9].
Research has shown that transcription factor 19 (TCF19), a regulator in the late G1/S phase of the cell cycle, plays a role in cellular proliferation [10, 11]. Located on chromosome 6p21.2, TCF19 spans 5.69 kilobases [12]. A study by Du et al. revealed that TCF19 negatively regulates WWC1, enhancing the invasiveness and metastatic potential of colorectal cancer cells [13]. Additionally, overactivation of TCF19 has been associated with the progression of non-small cell lung cancer and liver cancer, often correlating with poor prognosis [12, 13–14].
The exact role and mechanism of TCF19 in various cancers, particularly in breast cancer, are not fully understood. Different molecular phenotypes within breast cancer subtypes result in varied treatment responses, metastasis patterns, and prognostic outcomes. Molecular profiling has become essential in guiding precise treatment selection in breast cancer research [15, 16–17]. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective molecular markers to improve breast cancer treatment. Existing biomarkers often lack sensitivity, specificity, and practical utility, underscoring the need for more accurate prognostic markers for breast cancer.
This study aims to clarify the role and potential applications of TCF19 in breast cancer by using comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The...