Identification of E-cadherin and Rab2a as novel biomarkers to guide tailored treatment for triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers. Despite its heterogeneity, standard treatments often lead to relapse within 3-5 years, highlighting the need for predictive biomarkers. Microarray analysis identified E-cadherin and Rab2a as potential biomarkers linked to treatment outcomes. While in silico analysis showed no significant differences in their expression across breast cancer subtypes, high levels of these markers were associated with poor outcomes in TNBC patients treated with anthracyclines. However, immunohistochemistry results suggested Rab2a as a potential predictive biomarker for varying TNBC treatment responses. The combination of E-cadherin and Rab2a improved the accuracy of predicting treatment outcomes, and in vitro studies showed their knockdown significantly impacted TNBC cell lines growth. Rab2a expression was associated with drug sensitivity to anti-microtubule chemotherapy agents. Future research should focus on the predictive roles of these markers in TNBC and potential drugs identified through sensitivity screens, offering insights into personalised therapeutic strategies for TNBC patients.

Thesis is embargoed until 31 July 2026.

Date of Award	Jul 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Niamh Buckley (Supervisor) & Fiona Furlong (Supervisor)