Abstract

Breast cancer is a global health threat and cases diagnosed in women during the years after childbirth, or postpartum breast cancers (PPBCs), have high risk for metastasis. In preclinical murine models, semaphorin 7a (SEMA7A) drives the metastatic potential of postpartum mammary tumors. Thus, we hypothesize that SEMA7A may drive metastasis of PPBC in women. We report that SEMA7A protein expression is increased in PPBCs compared to their nulliparous counterparts in our University of Colorado cohort. Additionally, tumors from PPBC patients with involved lymph nodes and lymphovascular invasion were higher on average suggesting a potential role for SEMA7A as a prognostic biomarker. Consistent with this hypothesis we identify a level of SEMA7A expression in tumors that can predict for recurrence. We propose SEMA7A as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for PPBC patients, who currently lack strong predictors of outcome and unique targeted therapy options.

Details

Title
Semaphorin 7a is a biomarker for recurrence in postpartum breast cancer
Author
Borges, Virginia F 1 ; Hu Junxiao 2 ; Young, Chloe 3 ; Maggard Jaron 3 ; Parris, Hannah J 4 ; Gao Dexiang 2 ; Lyons, Traci R 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  University of Colorado Cancer Center, Young Women’s Breast Cancer Translational Program, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.499234.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0433 9255); University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.430503.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0703 675X) 
2  University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Dept of Biostatistics, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.430503.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0703 675X) 
3  University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.430503.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0703 675X) 
4  University of Colorado Cancer Center, Young Women’s Breast Cancer Translational Program, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.499234.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0433 9255); University of Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Aurora, USA (GRID:grid.430503.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 0703 675X) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
23744677
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-020-00198-1
ProQuest document ID
2640602075
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.