For All The Latest Medical News, Health News, Research News, COVID-19 News, Dengue News, Glaucoma News, Diabetes News, Herb News, Phytochemical News, Cardiology News, Epigenetic News, Cancer News, Doctor News, Hospital News

BREAKING NEWS
Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 03, 2025  2 days, 6 hours, 25 minutes ago

Scientists Discover EXT1 as a New Key Biomarker in Breast Cancer

3651 Shares
facebook sharing button Share
twitter sharing button Tweet
linkedin sharing button Share
Scientists Discover EXT1 as a New Key Biomarker in Breast Cancer
Nikhil Prasad  Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 03, 2025  2 days, 6 hours, 25 minutes ago
Medical News: Understanding Breast Cancer and Biomarkers
Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with more than two million new cases diagnosed annually. Despite advances in treatment, it continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. One of the most aggressive subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), lacks the common molecular markers - estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) - making it resistant to traditional hormonal and targeted therapies. This dire situation has fueled the search for new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers. Among them, the gene Exostosin 1 (EXT1) is garnering attention for its potential role in breast cancer progression and its correlation with the immune microenvironment.
 
This Medical News report focuses on EXT1, a gene encoding a glycosyltransferase enzyme responsible for heparan sulfate biosynthesis. Heparan sulfate plays a crucial role in cell signaling, tissue homeostasis, and the tumor microenvironment. Recent research reveals that EXT1 not only acts as an oncogene but also serves as an independent prognostic biomarker, particularly for TNBC. These findings, led by researchers from Cairo University, the University of Kent, the University of Marburg, and the Baheya Centre for Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment in Egypt, underline its significance in advancing breast cancer management.
 
The Study’s Approach and Key Findings
Researchers analyzed breast cancer tissue samples from 85 patients using immunohistochemical staining to evaluate EXT1 expression. The patient cohort, classified into luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive, and TNBC subtypes, highlighted critical associations between EXT1 and clinicopathological parameters.
 
Furthermore, bioinformatics tools like TIMER were employed to assess immune cell infiltration and its correlation with EXT1 levels.
 
Key findings from the study include:
-EXT1 Expression Across Breast Cancer Subtypes: Elevated EXT1 expression was predominantly observed in TNBC cases, with 100% of the TNBC patients exhibiting high EXT1 levels. In contrast, luminal A, luminal B, and HER2-positive cases showed significantly lower EXT1 expression.
 
-Correlation with Prognosis: High EXT1 expression correlated strongly with poor overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Patients with elevated EXT1 levels had a higher likelihood of recurrence and reduced survival rates, emphasizing its prognostic value.
 
-Association with Immune Infiltration: EXT1 expression was positively associated with immune cells like dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, neutrophils, and T lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+). These immune cells play dual roles in the tumor microenvironment, either suppressing or promoting tumor progression.
 
-Tumor Microenvironment (TME) and Immune Suppression: The study found that high EXT1 expression was linked to immune suppression markers such as TGF-β and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are known to inhibit anti-tumor immunity and facilitate cancer growth.
 
Implications for TNBC
TNBC is notorious for its aggressive nature and poor pr ognosis, with a five-year survival rate ranging between 8% and 16%. The lack of molecular targets has left patients reliant on conventional chemotherapy, often with limited success. The overexpression of EXT1 in TNBC offers a promising new avenue for therapeutic intervention. By targeting EXT1, clinicians might develop novel strategies to combat this challenging breast cancer subtype.
 
In-Depth Analysis of Immune Correlations
The study’s analysis through TIMER demonstrated significant relationships between EXT1 expression and various immune cells in the TME. For instance, high EXT1 levels were associated with increased infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, both of which can influence tumor progression and response to treatment.
 
Additionally, EXT1 correlated with markers for Tregs, a cell type implicated in creating an immune-suppressive environment. This highlights EXT1’s dual role in modulating the immune response and supporting cancer cell survival.

Interestingly, EXT1’s correlation with immune cells varied across breast cancer subtypes. In TNBC, the association was stronger, indicating that EXT1 might drive unique immune dynamics in this aggressive form of cancer. These insights are crucial for designing therapies that can disrupt the immune-suppressive effects associated with EXT1.
 
Potential for Future Therapeutics
The identification of EXT1 as a key biomarker and its association with the TME opens new possibilities for targeted therapies. For example, drugs that inhibit EXT1’s enzymatic activity could disrupt heparan sulfate biosynthesis, altering the TME and hindering tumor progression. Furthermore, combining EXT1 inhibitors with immunotherapy could enhance the immune system’s ability to combat cancer cells by reversing immune suppression.
 
Additionally, EXT1’s predictive value for recurrence could help oncologists identify high-risk patients who may benefit from more aggressive monitoring and treatment. Its role as a prognostic marker underscores the importance of integrating molecular diagnostics into clinical practice.
 
Limitations and Future Directions
While the study offers compelling evidence for EXT1’s role in breast cancer, further research is essential. Larger, multi-center cohorts are needed to validate these findings and explore the molecular mechanisms underlying EXT1’s functions. Understanding how EXT1 interacts with other components of the TME and immune cells will be critical for developing effective therapies. Moreover, clinical trials assessing the efficacy of EXT1-targeted treatments are necessary to translate these discoveries into practice.
 
Conclusions
The study provides robust evidence that EXT1 is a significant prognostic biomarker in breast cancer, particularly for TNBC. Its overexpression correlates with poor survival outcomes, increased recurrence, and immune cell infiltration. These findings suggest that EXT1 not only serves as a marker for disease progression but also as a potential therapeutic target.
 
Targeting EXT1 could revolutionize the treatment landscape for breast cancer, offering hope to patients with aggressive subtypes like TNBC. As research progresses, integrating EXT1 into diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks could enhance personalized cancer care, improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Immuno.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5601/5/1/1
 
For the latest on Breast Cancer, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/epigenetic-role-of-endocrine-disruptors-in-breast-cancer
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/triple-viral-infections-and-breast-cancer
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/promising-advances-in-breast-cancer-treatment-targeting-glutamine-metabolism
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/singapore-study-finds-that-brief-exposures-to-magnetic-fields-can-enhance-uptake-of-breast-cancer-chemotherapeutic-drugs

MOST READ

Nov 26, 2024  1 month ago
Nikhil Prasad
Nov 19, 2024  2 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Nov 12, 2024  2 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Nov 05, 2024  2 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Nov 05, 2024  2 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Jul 25, 2024  5 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Jul 24, 2024  6 months ago
Nikhil Prasad
Jun 10, 2023  2 years ago
COVID-19 News - DNA Methylation - Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections
Aug 04, 2022  2 years ago
Source: Medical News - SARS-CoV-2 & Cancer