ALDH 1A1 and caveolin-1 expression in triple negative breast cancer

Abstract Objective Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) contains a high proportion of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and exhibits resistance to chemotherapy treatments. Therefore, the identification of BCSCs that are novel molecular targets may improve patient survival. Aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH 1A1) has been considered a cancer stem cell marker in different tumors. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), a membrane transporter protein, regulates cancer chemo-resistance and stem cell signaling. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of ALDH 1A1 and Cav-1 in patients with TNBC by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to correlate their expression with clinical and pathological parameters. Methods Paraffin blocks of 30 breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Zagazig University Hospitals (Egypt) were evaluated. Antibodies to ALDH 1A1 and Cav-1 were used. Results ALDH 1A1 and Cav-1 significantly correlated with tumor size. A significant association between ALDH 1A1/Cav-1 IHC staining and relapse was found. Cav-1 and ALDH 1A1-positive expression correlated with a short 3-year disease-free survival rate and a 3-year overall survival rate (P < 0.001). Conclusion ALDH 1A1 and Cav-1 expression in TNBC was significantly positively correlated with poor clinicopathological parameters and shortened survival. Expression of both markers was significantly positively correlated with each other (P < 0.001). ALDH 1A1 and Cav-1 could be potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer.