Maha Guimei
University of Sharjah UAE
Title: A2A receptors are highly expressed in young patients with luminal B and triple negative breast cancer subtypes and are associated with a higher proliferate index
Biography
Biography: Maha Guimei
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Numerous Molecules in the tumor microenvironment orchestrate the body’s immune response against tumor cells thereby affecting tumor cell growth and proliferation. Adenosine is produced in the hypoxic tumor milieu and by stimulating its receptors (A2AR) plays an important immunosuppressive effect that helps tumor cells evade the body s immune mechanisms. Stimulation of these receptors also has a profound role in promoting the vasculature and contributing to tumor aggressiveness.
The present study aims at investigating A2AR expression in breast cancer tissue and its association with different clinico-pathological parameters.
Methods: This study was conducted on 30 FFPE human breast cancer tissues. Sections were immunohistochemically stained with of A2AR antibodies. Clinical and pathological data were retrospectively obtained from the patients’ records in the archives of the pathology department in Alexandria University, Egypt.
Results: A2ARs were expressed in 73.3% (n=22) of breast cancer tumors. Its expression was significantly higher in younger age patients (< 50 years) (88.2%) compared to older ones (54.5%)[p=0.044]. A2AR expression was significantly associated with a Luminal B molecular subtype and triple negative tumors [p=0.028] compared to Luminal A, and Her2-enriched tumors. Patients expressing A2A receptors had significantly higher expression of Progesterone receptors [P=0.031] compared to ER expression [P=0.098]. The majority of A2AR expressing tumors had a mitotic index score of 2 [p=0.013] as well as a significantly higher proliferative index (ki-67 >30%) [p=0.018]. No association was observed between A2A expression and tumor size, type, grade, Lymph node status or outcome after 2 years of follow-up.
Conclusion: Our study confirmed that A2AR receptors are strongly expressed on breast cancer cells of younger patients particularly those of luminal B and triple negative subtypes. Their expression is associated with a higher proliferative index suggesting that the addition of A2AR antagonists to the current treatment protocols might further improve the outcome of this group of patients.