L1CAM Expression in Recurrent Estrogen Positive/HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: We investigate L1CAM expression in ER positive/HER2 negative breast carcinomas. The finding of a potential correlation between high L1CAM expression and recurrent/metastatic disease in luminal A and B breast carcinomas may be helpful for risk stratification and open opportunities for targeted therapies.Methods: 304 cases comprising 152 cases of ER positive, PR positive/negative and HER2 negative recurrent/metastatic breast carcinomas and 152 non-recurrent controls were included. ER, PR, HER-2, Ki-67 status, Nottingham grade, tumor size, tumor stage, number of foci, lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion, phenotype, laterality, age at diagnosis and first distant or local recurrence were recorded. Results: L1CAM positive cases showed increased specificity for recurrence and these patients were significantly younger than L1CAM negative ones. Compared to L1CAM negative recurrent cases, L1CAM positive ones had a noticeably higher Ki-67, tended to be larger and recurred sooner. All L1CAM positive recurrent/metastatic cases were of the luminal B subtype compared to 67.3% of the L1CAM negative cases. Conclusions: L1CAM is highly specific for recurrence in a subset of breast cancer patients and may be associated with more aggressive behavior, particularly in luminal B breast cancers with higher Ki-67 expression. Further investigation about the prognostic value of L1CAM is warranted.

A gene expression signature in HER2+ breast cancer patients related to neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance, overall survival, and disease-free survival

“…A set of genes that showed high expression in the resistant group, which were related to lower OS and worse DFS, were L1CAM, MICA, and TNXB. The expression of L1CAM is increased in luminal B breast cancer, and its expression is related to disease recurrence and higher levels of Ki-67 expression (Moisini et al, 2021). A soluble form of L1CAM has been found in HER2-enriched primary breast cancer patients (Wu et al, 2018).…”