Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2025, Vol. 63 ›› Issue (1): 43-59.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2024.1177

• Clinical Research • Previous Articles    

VTCN1 causes poor prognosis and endocrine therapy resistance in HR+ breast cancer

SONG Yawen, GUO Liantao, KONG Deguang, SUN Shengrong   

  1. Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
  • Published:2025-02-20

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Abstract: Objective To investigate the mechanisms associated with endocrine therapy resistance in hormone receptor-positive(particularly Luminal A subtype)breast cancer, for overcoming clinical treatment challenges and improving patient outcomes. Methods Bioinformatics techniques were used to identify differential expression genes between endocrine therapy-sensitive and drug-resistant patients. Through pan-cancer analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, protein interaction network construction, correlation analysis with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and in vitro cell experiments, the potential mechanisms underlying the role of the target gene were speculated and validated. Results VTCN1 attenuated the anticancer effect of Tamoxifen in MCF7 and T47D cells. This gene might alter the tumor microenvironment, particularly the tumor immune microenvironment, through regulatory factors such as Notch4, Slug, Sox2, LAG3, and PD-L1, promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and affect hormone receptor expression, ultimately lead to Tamoxifen resistance. Conclusion VTCN1 regulates the tumor microenvironment through EMT-related factors, thereby contributing to endocrine therapy resistance in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Key words: Breast cancer, VTCN1, Endocrine therapy resistance, Tamoxifen, Tumor microenvironment, Hormone receptor, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

CLC Number: 

  • R737.9
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