Neuroglobin: A New Possible Marker of Estrogen-Responsive Breast Cancer

Cells. 2021 Aug 5;10(8):1986. doi: 10.3390/cells10081986.

Abstract

The expression of the α-subtype of Estrogen Receptor (ERα) characterizes most breast cancers (more than 75%), for which endocrine therapy is the mainstay for their treatment. However, a high percentage of ERα+ breast cancers are de novo or acquired resistance to endocrine therapy, and the definition of new targets for improving therapeutic interventions and the prediction of treatment response is demanding. Our previous data identified the ERα/AKT/neuroglobin (NGB) pathway as a common pro-survival process activated in different ERα breast cancer cell lines. However, no in vivo association between the globin and the malignity of breast cancer has yet been done. Here, we evaluated the levels and localization of NGB in ERα+ breast ductal carcinoma tissue of different grades derived from pre-and post-menopausal patients. The results indicate a strong association between NGB accumulation, ERα, AKT activation, and the G3 grade, while no association with the menopausal state has been evidenced. Analyses of the data set (e.g., GOBO) strengthen the idea that NGB accumulation could be linked to tumor cell aggressiveness (high grade) and resistance to treatment. These data support the view that NGB accumulation, mainly related to ER expression and tumor grade, represents a compensatory process, which allows cancer cells to survive in an unfavorable environment.

Keywords: AKT; breast cancer survival; ductal infiltrating adenocarcinoma; estrogen receptor α; neuroglobin; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / chemistry*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / therapy
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / analysis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neuroglobin / analysis*
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / analysis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • NGB protein, human
  • Neuroglobin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt