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The reciprocal association between mammographic breast density, hyaluronan synthesis and patient outcome

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Low mammographic breast density (MBD) and increased hyaluronan (HA) synthesis have been shown to have adverse effects on breast cancer prognosis. We aimed at elucidating the background of risk associated with mammographic characteristics, MBD and HA and its synthesizing isoforms in an attempt to uncover potential underlying biological mechanisms. MBD and mammographic characteristics of 270 patients were classified according to percentile density (very low density VLD, ≤25 %; mixed density MID, >25 %) and the BI-RADS 5th edition lexicon. Breast density and mammographic features were correlated with the localization and expression of HA, CD44, and HAS1-3 isoforms, and their combined effect on patients’ survivals was explored. VLD showed an increased level of HA-positive carcinoma cells and stromal HA, HAS2, and HAS3. Tumors presenting as masses had more HA-positive carcinoma cells and more stromal HAS2 and HAS3. Indistinct margin tumors showed more stromal HA and HAS3. Patients who combined both VLD breasts with either high HA in carcinoma cells or stroma showed a worse prognosis compared to low levels (carcinoma cells 58.0 vs. 80.5 %, p = 0.001; stroma 64.2 vs. 79.6 %, p = 0.017), while no similar HA-related effect was observed in MID breasts. Our findings suggest a strong reciprocal relationship between low MBD and HA expression and synthesis. The expression of both factors simultaneously leads to an especially adverse prognostic effect which might have an impact on treatment decision in the future. Moreover, HA around cancer cells may inhibit chemotherapy agents and antibody treatments from reaching cancer cells.

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Abbreviations

MBD:

Mammographic breast density

HA:

Hyaluronan

HAS:

Hyaluronan synthase

HER2:

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

VLD:

Very low density

MID:

Mixed density

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was received from Kuopio University Hospital-VTR funds (MT, PA, RV, RT), EVO funding (Grant Nos. 5063525, 5063532) (AM, RV, AS), the University of Kuopio Foundation (AM), grants from Mauri and Sirkka Wiljasalo (AM) and the Paavo Koskinen foundation (AM), Spearhed Funds of the University of Eastern Finland (Cancer Center of Eastern Finland) (RV, PA, VMK, AM), Sigrid Juselius Foundation (RT, MT), and Cancer societies of Finland (RV, AM, MS). Authors are thankful for Tuomas Selander for kindly providing statistical advice for this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70210, Kuopio, Finland

    Amro Masarwah, Mazen Sudah, Anna Sutela & Ritva Vanninen

  2. Department of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Markku Tammi, Sanna Oikari & Raija Tammi

  3. Department of Pathology, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70210, Kuopio, Finland

    Veli-Matti Kosma

  4. Biocenter Kuopio and Cancer Center of Eastern Finland, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Veli-Matti Kosma & Ritva Vanninen

  5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Veli-Matti Kosma & Ritva Vanninen

  6. Department of Oncology, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70210, Kuopio, Finland

    Päivi Auvinen

  7. Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box PL 100, 70029, KYS, Finland

    Amro Masarwah, Mazen Sudah, Anna Sutela, Veli-Matti Kosma, Ritva Vanninen & Päivi Auvinen

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  1. Amro Masarwah
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  2. Markku Tammi
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  3. Mazen Sudah
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  9. Päivi Auvinen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amro Masarwah.

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Conflicts of Interest

MT received travel imbursement and an honorarium for a lecture at Halozyme Inc., San Diego, CA. The remaining authors declare that they have no other potential competing interests.

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Masarwah, A., Tammi, M., Sudah, M. et al. The reciprocal association between mammographic breast density, hyaluronan synthesis and patient outcome. Breast Cancer Res Treat 153, 625–634 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-015-3567-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-015-3567-0

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