High Receptor-interacting Serine/Threonine-protein Kinase 3 (RIP3) Expression Serves as an Independent Poor Prognostic Factor for Triple-negative Breast Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIP3) is a key component related to tumor necrosis factor-dependent necroptosis. RIP3 has been known to be a predictive biomarker in many types of carcinomas. We aimed to investigate whether RIP3 expression is correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and the outcomes of patients with breast carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed immunostaining for RIP3 and analyzed the association of RIP3 expression status with the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of 203 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

RESULTS

High RIP3 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity. In patients with triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC), high RIP3 expression was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS). RIP3-high TNBC showed the lowest DFS rate.

CONCLUSION

High RIP3 expression is associated with aggressive clinical behavior of breast carcinoma. Our data suggest that RIP3 serves as an independent prognostic factor in TNBC.