Expression of ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 in the triple-negative breast cancer and their clinical significance

Background and purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a more aggressive disease and easier to recur and metastasize as compared to non-TNBC. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1, cancer stem cell biomarker), metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1), KAI1 (suppressor of cancer metastasis) are all useful predictive factors for metastasis and prognosis in many cancers. In this study, we analyzed associations among ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 in TNBC, and their respective correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival in TNBC. Methods: Positive rates of ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 in 102 whole TNBC tissues specimens were detected by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Patients' clinical data were also collected. Results: Levels of ALDH1 and MACC1 were significantly higher, and levels of KAI1 significantly lower, in TNBC tissues than in control tissues. Levels of ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and with patients' overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS). In multivariate analysis showed that the expression of ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors of OS and PFS in TNBC. Conclusion: The expression of ALDH1, MACC1, and KAI1 Represent promising markers for metastasis and prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets for TNBC.