Aim: Large tumor suppressor gene 1 (LATS1) belongs to the PKA/PKG/PKC serine/threonine kinase subfamily of the Hippo signaling pathway and inactivates nuclear co-activators YAP1 and WWTR1 by phosphorylation. This study aimed to discern the clinicopathological and prognostic significances of LATS1 expression in breast cancer.
Methods: We examined LATS1 expression in breast carcinogenesis and compared it with clinicopathological parameters and survival information of breast cancer patients using immunohistochemistry, western blotting, RT-PCR, and bioinformatics analysis.
Results: LATS1 expression was downregulated in breast cancer at both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). LATS1 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with low ER and PR expression, aggressive subtypes (TNBC and HER2+ vs. luminal), and poor survival (P<0.05). Its protein expression was negatively linked to patient age, T stage, N stage, M stage histological grade, PR status, and unfavorable prognosis (P<0.05). There was a positive correlationship between nuclar and cytoplasmic LATS1 expression in breast cancer (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The downregulation of LATS1 expression plays a vital role in the carcinogenesis and progression of breast cancer. Thus, LATS1 loss was employed to indicate the aggressive behaviors and poor prognosis of breast cancer.