Open AccessMolecular portrait of breast cancer in C hina reveals comprehensive transcriptomic likeness to C aucasian breast cancer and low prevalence of luminal A subtype
Author(s) -
Huang Xiaoyan,
Dugo Matteo,
Callari Maurizio,
Sandri Marco,
De Cecco Loris,
Valeri Barbara,
Carcangiu Maria Luisa,
Xue Jingyan,
Bi Rui,
Veneroni Silvia,
Daidone Maria Grazia,
Ménard Sylvie,
Tagliabue Elda,
Shao Zhimin,
Wu Jiong,
Orlandi Rosaria
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.442
Subject(s) - breast cancer , transcriptome , cancer , medicine , oncology , disease , gene , biology , genetics , bioinformatics , gene expression
The recent dramatic increase in breast cancer incidence across C hina with progressive urbanization and economic development has signaled the urgent need for molecular and clinical detailing of breast cancer in the C hinese population. Our analyses of a unique transethnic collection of breast cancer frozen specimens from S hanghai F udan C ancer C enter ( C hinese H an) profiled simultaneously with an analogous C aucasian I talian series revealed consistent transcriptomic data lacking in batch effects. The prevalence of Luminal A subtype was significantly lower in C hinese series, impacting the overall prevalence of estrogen receptor ( ER )‐positive disease in a large cohort of C hinese/ C aucasian patients. Unsupervised and supervised comparison of gene and microRNA ( miRNA ) profiles of C hinese and C aucasian samples revealed extensive similarity in the comprehensive taxonomy of transcriptional elements regulating breast cancer biology. Partition of gene expression data using gene lists relevant to breast cancer as “intrinsic” and “extracellular matrix” genes identified C hinese and C aucasian subgroups with equivalent global gene and miRNA profiles. These findings indicate that in the C hinese and C aucasian groups, breast neoplasia and the surrounding stromal characteristics undergo the same differentiation and molecular processes. Transcriptional similarity across transethnic cohorts may simplify translational medicine approaches and clinical management of breast cancer patients worldwide.