Purpose: In previous studies, we have shown that SEC62 has an essential function in cell migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and endoplasmic reticulum stress tolerance of cancer cells. SEC62 expression correlated with distant and lymph node metastasis and poor outcome in different cancer entities. In this initial study, we investigated SEC62 expression and its possible role as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in breast cancer (BC).
Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 53 BC patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The immunoreactive score (IRS) according to Remmele and Stegner was evaluated and correlated with clinico-pathological findings and overall survival (OS).
Results: We found increased SEC62 protein levels in tumor tissue compared to tumor-free tissue samples from the same patients. Tumors with high SEC62 expression (IRS > 8), or containing isolated cells with high SEC62 staining intensity, independent of the IRS, had more frequently distant metastases (48.4% vs. 18.2%; p = 0.024 and 47.4 vs. 6.7%; p = 0.005, respectively). Overall survival was significantly worse in BC patients with high SEC62 expression (SEC62 IRS > 8) (54.8% vs. 81.8%; p = 0.011) and in cases with isolated high-intensity SEC62 staining cells independently of SEC62 IRS (55.3% vs 93.3%; p = 0.024).
Conclusions: We are the first to describe the SEC62 expression and its correlation to clinicopathological parameters in mammary carcinoma. Our results suggest that SEC62 expression may serve as a prognostic marker for patients with invasive ductal breast cancer.
Keywords: Biomarker; Breast cancer; Immunohistochemistry; Metastasis; Prognostic factor; SEC62.