Dados do Trabalho

Título

GASTRIN-RELEASING PEPTIDE RECEPTOR (GRPR) AS A PROMISING PROGNOSTIC BIOMARKER IN BREAST CANCER

Introdução

Neuropeptide receptors, such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor (GRPR), are highly expressed in various types of cancer, including breast cancer. Previous studies indicated a positive correlation between GRPR and estrogen receptor (ER) levels, suggesting a potential association between these receptors and tumor progression. Nevertheless, there are few studies in the existing literature regarding the role of GRPR in breast cancer.

Justificativa

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, and even today, few diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are known. The Discovery of novel biomarkers is crucial for advancing personalized medicine.

Objetivo

Our study aims to verify the expression and prognostic implications of GRP and GRPR in breast cancer by analyzing multiple cancer-related databases.

Métodos

The expression and prognosis of GRP and GRPR in breast cancer were assessed using different databases, including ONCOBD, Gent2, and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA).

Resultados

Bioinformatics analysis revealed overexpression of GRPR in breast cancer compared to healthy tissue, while GRP level was similar in both samples. The expression of GRP and GRPR positively correlated with estrogen receptor and grade 1 tumors (p < 0.001). Among the breast cancer subtypes, Luminal A showed the highest levels of GRP and GPR, followed by Luminal B, HER2+, TNBC and basal. Prognosis analysis using Gent2 indicated better outcomes for breast cancer patients with higher expression of GRP and GRPR, showing improved overall survival (OS) compared to those with low expression (p = 0.004). However, in GEPIA, no difference was observed in OS in patients with high and low expression of the biomarkers. Additional studies are needed to elucidate these relationships.

Conclusão

Our findings suggest that GRP and GRPR expression correlates with estrogen receptor positivity in breast cancer and may be associated with a good prognosis for breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the overexpression of GRPR in breast cancer suggests its potential as a novel prognostic biomarker and might be useful as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment.