Kashiwagi S, et al. - Analysts wished to find out whether variables such as tumor expression of β-tubulin class III, glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP) 1 or transducin-like enhancer of split (TLE) 3 might act as predictive factors on the therapeutic effect of eribulin chemotherapy. For predicting the therapeutic effect of eribulin chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), they highlighted the potential of TLE3 as a useful marker.

Methods

• 52 patients with MBC who underwent chemotherapy with eribulin were incorporated in this study.
• By using immunostaining employing needle biopsy specimens, the expression levels of Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2, Ki67, β-tubulin class III, GSTP-1 and TLE-3 were evaluated.

Results

• As compared to patients with TLE3-positive tumors, patients with TLE3-negative tumors displayed significantly poorer outcomes regarding progression-free survival when prognosis within the group of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lesions was analyzed (p = 0.011, log-rank).
• On the other hand, this study did not observe difference in prognosis in a comparison of TLE-3 positive/negative patients in the group of all patients (p = 0.433, log-rank) or of patients with non-TNBC lesions (p = 0.659, log-rank).
• Based on a univariate analysis of 22 TNBC cases, a correlation of a better progression-free survival and a positive TLE3 expression in the tumor (p= 0.025), was highlighted.
• A link between a positive TLE3 expression and a better progression-free survival (p= 0.037) was outlined by a multivariate logistic regression analysis including 22 patients with TNBC.