The Prognostic Value of the Expression of <i>SMC4</i> mRNA in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Aim . To investigate the mRNA expression and clinical significance of structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 4 ( SMC4 ) in breast cancer. Methods . A total of 23 paired samples were sequenced, and data from the Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed. Results . SMC4 mRNA level was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.001</mml:mn></mml:math>). Patients with high mRNA expression of SMC4 had significantly poor survival (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.012</mml:mn></mml:math>). Subgroup analyses show that in nontriple negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) patients, the high SMC4 mRNA expression, older age (&gt;65), negative progesterone receptor, and advanced stages (III-IV) were independent risk factors (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mtext>HR</mml:mtext><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>3.293</mml:mn></mml:math>, 95% CI 1.257-8.625, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.015</mml:mn></mml:math>). In patients with TNBC, high mRNA expression of SMC4 correlated with better survival rate (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.046</mml:mn></mml:math>). Conclusion . SMC4 mRNA level is a good prognostic biomarker for patients with breast cancer.