Quantum dot-based quantitative immunofluorescence detection and spectrum analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor in breast cancer tissue arrays

Abstract

Background:The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a promising therapeutic target in cancer, but its clinical value in breast cancer remains controversial. Our previous studies have found that quantitative analysis of biomarkers with quantum dot-based nanotechnology had better detection performance than conventional immunohistochemistry. The present study was undertaken to investigate the prognostic value of EGFR in breast cancer using quantum dot-based quantitative spectral analysis. Methods: EGFR expression in 65 breast cancer specimens was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantum dot-immunohistochemistry, and comparisons were made between the two methods. EGFR expression in tissue microarrays of 240 breast cancer patients was then detected by quantum dot-immunohistochemistry and spectral analysis. The prognostic value of EGFR immunofluorescence area (EGFR area) for five-year recurrence-free survival was investigated. Results: The same antigen localization, high correlation of staining rates (r = 0.914), and high agreement of measurement (κ = 0.848) of EGFR expression in breast cancer were found by quantum dot-immunohistochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The EGFR area showed significant differences by tumor grade, lymph node status, HER2 status, and hormone receptor status (all P , 0.05). Patients in the large EGFR area ($30.51) group had a significantly higher five-year recurrence rate (47.2% versus 27.4%, P = 0.002) and worse five-year recurrence-free survival (log-rank test, P = 0.0015) than those in the small EGFR area (,30.51) group. In the subgroups, EGFR area was an independent prognosticator in the HER2-positive and lymph node-positive subgroups. Conclusion: Quantum dot-based quantitative detection demonstrates the prognostic value of EGFR area in the HER2-positive and lymph node-positive subgroups of invasive breast cancer.

Imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor on single breast cancer cells using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

“…Currently, the most commonly used methods to assess EGFR status in clinical cancer specimens are immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining [6–8]. Quantification can be done using immunoblotting.…”

Receptor-Targeted Surface-Engineered Nanomaterials for Breast Cancer Imaging and Theranostic Applications

“…61,62 Although immune-histochemistry has been the conventional method used to determine the degree of hormone-receptor expression, its use in quantifying receptor expression is not widespread. 63 In addition, an attempt to detect different types of receptor proteins at once on a single tumor specimen requires several steps. 61,64 Receptor-targeted nanomedicines, on the other hand, can quantify and profile several biomarkers more accurately and sensitively, thus offering clear advantages over immune-histochemistry.…”

“…The outcomes of this study showed the importance of EGFR in the prognosis of lymph nodepositive and HER2-positive invasive breast cancer via immunofluorescent detection. 63 Li et al developed FA-functionalized two-photon absorbing 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) NPs with aggregationinduced emission for specific targeting and imaging in MCF-7 cancer cells using a two-photon fluorescence microscope. 105 Different nanomaterials including lipidic NPs, polymeric NPs, metallic NPs, QDs, and dendrimers, etc have been engineered smartly by researchers for fluorescent imaging of breast cancer with promising results in preclinical studies in animals.…”

Quantum Dot-Based Dual-Color In Situ Fluorescence Imaging of the Coevolution of CD68 and CD47 in Breast Cancer

“…The development of biologically focused nanotechnology, especially quantum dot (QD)-based nanotechnology, has provided a new modality for the early diagnosis and treatment of tumors . QDs are zero-dimensional semiconductor nanocrystals , with excellent optical and electronic properties, such as high fluorescence intensity, resistance to photobleaching and chemical degradation, size-tunable symmetric emission wavelengths, and multiple colors of QDs can be simultaneously excited by a single ultraviolet (UV) source, which has led to the rapid development of QD-based immunofluorescence (QD-IF). − QD-IF possesses high sensitivity and spatial resolution. Hence, it can be used not only for simultaneous double- or multicolor imaging but also for accurate quantitative analysis. , …”