Vitamin D receptor (VDR) mRNA overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in breast carcinoma

• Published in: Annals of surgical treatment and research Vol. 103; no. 4; pp. 183 - 194
• Main Authors: Nam, Sang Eun, Jin, TongYi, Park, Kyoung Sik, Saindane, Madhuri, Noh, Woo Chul, Yoo, Young Bum, Park, Won Seo, Yun, Ik Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 대한외과학회 01.10.2022; The Korean Surgical Society
• Subjects: Original; Prognostic biomarkers; Breast carcinoma; VDR gene; Bioinformatics
• ISSN: 2288-6575; 2288-6796
• DOI: 10.4174/astr.2022.103.4.183

PurposeThe prognostic value of vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) expression in breast cancer development is unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate whether VDR expression can be used as a prognostic indicator of breast cancer. MethodsWe used various public bioinformatics platforms: Oncomine, GEPIA, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, UCSC XENA, bc-GenExMiner, WebGestalt, and STRING database. ResultsWe found that VDR was upregulated in breast cancer in comparison to normal tissues. Overexpression of VDR was significantly associated with worse overall survival in breast cancer. The expression of VDR was related to age, TNM stages, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, basal-like (PAM 50) status, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) status, and basal-like (PAM 50) & TNBC status (P < 0.05). Increased VDR expression in breast cancer was significantly associated with older age. The 5 hub genes for VDR were NCOA1, EP300, CREBBP, and RXRA. ConclusionOur investigation offers hints about the prognostic role of VDR in breast cancer. The findings suggest that VDR expression might be used as a marker to determine a breast cancer patient's prognosis. Nevertheless, further validation is warranted.