Prognostic significance of CD117 expression and missense mutations in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is extremely aggressive and associated with poor prognosis. There are no known predictive or prognostic markers for TNBC. Inhibition of tumor protein P53 () has been demonstrated to increase the levels of cluster of differentiation 117 (CD117) in human colorectal cancer cells. However, the function of in the regulation of CD117 in TNBC has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported. In the present study, the association between the expression of CD117 protein and mutations was investigated, and their prognostic value in patients with TNBC was assessed. A total of 58 TNBC and 48 non-TNBC breast cancer tissue samples were assessed for the expression of CD117, p53 and mutations. The marker of proliferation Ki-67 (MKI67) proliferation index and vascular invasion index (obtained by measuring D2-40 and CD34) was investigated via immunohistochemistry, and mutations in exons 4-8 of were measured using direct sequencing. Associations between CD117 and p53 levels or mutations and clinical parameters were statistically evaluated. The rates of CD117 or MKI67 positivity, CD117/ missense mutation, missense mutations or recurrence were significantly higher in patients with TNBC than in patients with non-TNBC. In TNBC tissues, the presence of CD117 was associated with missense mutations (P=0.031), vascular invasion, recurrence and MKI67. CD117/ missense mutation also associated with vascular invasion, recurrence and MKI67. Under univariate analysis, MKI67, vascular invasion, CD117, CD117/ missense mutation and missense mutations were associated with the overall survival of patients with TNBC. Multivariate analysis revealed that vascular invasion and CD117/ missense mutation in primary tumors were independent prognostic factors in patients with TNBC. In conclusion, CD117/ missense mutation was associated with MKI67, vascular invasion and tumor recurrence in TNBC. The presence of CD117 and missense mutations together in the primary tumors was an independent prognostic factor for survival of patients with TNBC.