TPD52 is a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ER+/PR+/HER2+ breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer (BRCA) represents a significant health challenge for women globally, with refractory cases showing resistance to current therapeutic strategies. The discovery of novel molecular markers and therapeutic targets is critical for improving outcomes in these patients. The primary aim of this study is to elucidate the role of tumor protein D52 (TPD52) as a novel molecular marker and potential therapeutic target to improve outcomes for BRCA patients. Methods: Using bioinformatics methods, we screened and evaluated the expression, prognosis, and associated mechanisms of TPD52 in BRCA. Two hundred and thirty-eight BRCA cases and 19 control cases were collected from Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, and the protein expression of TPD52 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between TPD52 and the prognosis of BRCA was analyzed. Results: The expression of TPD52 in BRCA tissues was significantly higher than that in the control (P<0.001), displaying a strong association with key clinical variables, concurrently indicating an unfavorable prognostic implication. The survival analysis revealed high TPD52 expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall (P=0.008) and disease-specific survival (P=0.005). Gene set enrichment analysis showed that TPD52 negatively correlated with estradiol, AMP-activated protein kinase, and other responses. Immune infiltration analysis showed that TPD52 was associated with immune cell infiltration, Th-1/Th-2 cell balance, and immune defense cells such as dendritic and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. It is further found that high TPD52 expression is associated with progression-free and disease-free survival from the analysis of immunohistochemical data of the patients at our hospital. Conclusions: In summary, TPD52 may serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for BRCA, which may represent a promising novel therapeutic target, particularly for the refractory estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/progesterone receptor-positive (PR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) BRCA cases that have failed endocrine therapy and targeted treatment