Analysis of the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways in male breast cancer revealed the prognostic significance of ATR expression

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 14;7(1):8078. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07366-7.

Abstract

The ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways are central in DNA damage repair (DDR) and their over-activation may confer aggressive molecular features, being an adaptive response to endogenous DNA damage and oncogene-induced replication stress. Herein we investigated the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 signalings in male breast cancer (MBC). The expression of DDR kinases (pATR, pATM, pChk1, pChk2, and pWee1) and DNA damage markers (pRPA32 and γ-H2AX) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 289 MBC samples to assess their association. Survival analyses were carried out in 112 patients. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional regression models were generated to identify variables impacting survival outcomes. The expression of pATR conferred poorer survival outcomes (log rank p = 0.013, p = 0.007 and p = 0.010 for overall, 15- and 10-year survival, respectively). Multivariate Cox models of 10-year survival and overall indicated that pATR expression, alone or combined with pChk2, was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes (10-year survival: pATR: HR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.23-6.10; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.35-6.33; overall survival: pATR: HR 2.58, 95% CI: 1.20-5.53; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.37-6.12). Overall, the ATR/ATM-initiated molecular cascade seems to be active in a fraction of MBC patients and may represent a negative prognostic factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / pathology
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • DNA Damage / physiology
  • DNA Repair / physiology
  • DNA Replication / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • ATM protein, human
  • ATR protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • CHEK1 protein, human
  • CHEK2 protein, human
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1