Upregulation of ZMAT3 is Associated with the Poor Prognosis of Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Identifying robust biomarkers for predicting outcomes is essential for improving patient care and reducing fatalities. ZMAT3, a zinc finger protein with potential carcinogenic properties, has been associated with various cancers. However, its role in breast cancer prognosis remains unclear.

METHODS

We investigated the expression level of in breast cancer tissues and its association with clinical outcomes through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. We examined the correlation between expression and immune characteristics. mRNA expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analysed in relation to overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI) in patients with breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on breast cancer tissues to assess protein levels, with findings validated using qPCR and cell experiments.

RESULTS

mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in breast cancer samples compared to normal tissues. High expression was significantly correlated with the poor OS, DSS and PFI. A significant positive correlation was observed between high mRNA levels and the abundance of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), especially CD8+T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified as an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer. IHC staining confirmed increased ZMAT3 protein expression in breast cancer tissues, which was further validated by qPCR and cell function tests.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that is a prognostic biomarker linked to immune invasion in breast cancer. Elevated expression correlates with adverse clinical outcomes, indicating its potential role in disease progression.