A two-gene expression ratio of homeobox 13 and interleukin-17B receptor for prediction of recurrence and survival in women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen

Matthew P. Goetz, Vera J. Suman, James N. Ingle, Andrea M. Nibbe, Dan W. Visscher, Carol A. Reynolds, Wilma L. Lingle, Mark Erlander, Xiao Jun Ma, Dennis C. Sgroi, Edith A. Perez, Fergus J. Couch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

142 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: In the adjuvant treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) - positive breast cancer, additional markers are needed to identify women at high risk for recurrence. Experimental Design: We examined the association between the ratio of the homeobox 13 (HOXB13) to interleukin-17B receptor (IL-17BR) expression and the clinical outcomes of relapse and survival in women with ER-positive breast cancer enrolled onto a North Central Cancer Treatment Group adjuvant tamoxifen trial (NCCTG 89-30-52). Results: Tumor blocks were obtained from 211 of 256 eligible patients, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR profiles for HOXB13 and IL-17BR were obtained from 206 patients. The cut point for the two-gene log 2(expression ratio) that best discriminated clinical outcome (recurrence and survival) was selected and identified women with significantly worse relapse-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), independent of standard prognostic markers. The cut point differed as a function of nodal status [node negative (59th percentile) versus node positive (90th percentile)]. In the node-positive cohort (n = 86), the HOXB13/IL-17BR ratio was not associated with relapse or survival. In contrast, in the node-negative cohort (n = 130), a high HOXB13/IL-17BR ratio was associated with significantly worse RFS [hazard ratio (HR), 1.98; P = 0.031], DFS (HR, 2.03; P = 0.015), and OS (HR, 2.4; P = 0.014), independent of standard prognostic markers. Conclusion: A high HOXB13/IL-17BR expression ratio is associated with increased relapse and death in patients with resected node-negative, ER-positive breast cancer treated with tamoxifen and may identify patients in whom alternative therapies should be studied.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2080-2087
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume12
Issue number7 I
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A two-gene expression ratio of homeobox 13 and interleukin-17B receptor for prediction of recurrence and survival in women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this