Expression of AQP3 and AQP5 as a prognostic marker in triple‑negative breast cancer

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a common type of breast malignancy with high a propensity for metastasis and locoregional recurrence. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 3 and AQP5, analyze their association with clinicopathological parameters and explore their clinical significance in tissue samples from patients with TNBC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression patterns of AQP3 and AQP5 in 96 patients with TNBC who underwent surgery between 2007 and 2012. AQP3 and AQP5 were expressed primarily in the membrane and cytoplasm of tumor cells within TNBC tissues. AQP3 and AQP5 expression was notably stronger in carcinoma tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue. Overexpression of AQP3 and AQP5 was significantly associated with tumor size, lymph node status and local relapse/distant metastasis. In addition, aberrant overexpression of AQP5 was observed more frequently in TNBC tissues with higher Ki-67 expression than in those with lower Ki-67 expression. In univariate analysis, patients with TNBC with high AQP3 and AQP5 expression demonstrated poorer 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival compared with patients with low AQP3 and AQP5 expression. In multivariate analysis, the combined expression of AQP3 and AQP5 was an independent prognostic marker in patients with TNBC. The results of the present study suggest that the overexpression of AQP3 and AQP5 may serve as a novel therapeutic marker in patients with TNBC.

Exosomes co‐expressing AQP5‐targeting miRNAs and IL‐4 receptor‐binding peptide inhibit the migration of human breast cancer cells

“…In particular, we have shown that increased expression of AQP5 in the breast cancer cells was associated with cancer cell migration, metastasis, and poor prognosis in human patients . It was also reported that AQP3 and AQP5 abundance was notably increased in triple‐negative breast cancer patients . Moreover, a positive tendency in the correlation analysis between AQP5 and Rac‐GTP expression was reported in human breast cancer tissue, the latter being a GTPase involved in cell migration .…”

“…13,14 It was also reported that AQP3 and AQP5 abundance was notably increased in triple-negative breast cancer patients. 15 Moreover, a positive tendency in the correlation analysis between AQP5 and Rac-GTP expression was reported in human breast cancer tissue, the latter being a GTPase involved in cell migration. 16 Also, AQP5 overexpression in normal epithelial cells (MDCK cells) stimulated cell detachment and dissemination from migrating cell sheets, which could be counteracted by inhibition of Ras.…”

AQP3 Facilitates Proliferation and Adipogenic Differentiation of Porcine Intramuscular Adipocytes

“…Accumulated studies have shown that AQPs are involved in tumor metastasis [15]. AQP3 and AQP5 can be used as new markers for breast cancer [38]. Another study showed that overexpression of AQP3 in mammalian cells can promote cell proliferation efficiency and cell cycle transition [39].…”

Aquaporin 3 Expression Pattern in Gastric Diseases and its significance

“…Development of gastric adenocarcinomas is a stepwise progression of histologic lesions, starting with gastritis, followed by intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and eventually invasive adenocarcinoma. AQP3 has been reported to associate with human cancer progression and metastasis, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and triple-negative breast cancer [22][23][24][25][26]. However, the role of AQP3 and its expression pattern in gastric carcinogenesis remain unclear.…”