High expressions of LDHA and AMPK as prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer

• LDHA and AMPK were up-regulated synchronously in breast cancer.
• The expression of LDHA and AMPK showed positive correlation in breast cancer.
• Co-expression of LDHA and AMPK is correlated with clinicopathological parameters.
• Co-expression of LDHA and AMPK is correlated with poor clinical outcome of breast cancer.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and their clinicopathologic significance in breast cancer.Materials and MethodsWestern blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of LDHA and AMPK in eight breast cancer lines and eight breast cancer tissues. In addition, LDHA and AMPK were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using breast cancer tissue microarrays (TMAs) of 112 patients. The association between LDHA and AMPK expression levels was statistically analyzed. So were the prognostic roles and clinicopathologic significances in breast cancer.ResultsThe expression levels of LDHA and AMPK were relatively higher in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines than in non-triple-negative breast cancer (NTNBC) cell lines. LDHA and AMPK were also further up-regulated in TNBC tissues than in NTNBC tissues. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between LDHA and AMPK expression levels. Expression of LDHA and AMPK were significantly correlated with TNM stage, distant metastasis, Ki67 status and survival outcomes of patients. Patients with both positive expression of LDHA and AMPK showed shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).ConclusionsThese findings improve our understanding of the expression pattern of LDHA and AMPK in breast cancer and clarify the role of LDHA and AMPK as promising prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer.