Sprouty 2 Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Breast Cancer and May Be Useful in Stratifying Patients for Trastuzumab Therapy
2011

Sprouty 2 as a Prognostic Factor in Breast Cancer

Sample size: 122 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Faratian Dana, Sims Andrew H., Mullen Peter, Kay Charlene, Um InHwa, Langdon Simon P., Harrison David J.

Primary Institution: University of Edinburgh

Hypothesis

Sprouty 2 may play a role in HER2-therapy resistance and could be an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer.

Conclusion

High levels of Sprouty 2 expression are associated with better survival outcomes in breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab.

Supporting Evidence

  • Low Spry2 expression was linked to higher pathological grade and increased risk of death.
  • High Spry2 expression was associated with better prognosis in trastuzumab-treated patients.
  • The study found that Spry2 could help stratify patients for trastuzumab therapy.

Takeaway

Sprouty 2 helps doctors understand how well a breast cancer treatment might work, and higher levels of it mean better chances of survival.

Methodology

The study involved a meta-analysis of gene expression data and quantitative immunofluorescence to assess Sprouty 2 levels in breast cancer patients.

Potential Biases

Potential biases due to the retrospective nature of the study and lack of randomization.

Limitations

The study was retrospective and did not include informed consent for tissue samples from deceased patients.

Participant Demographics

Patients were primarily women with breast cancer, treated with trastuzumab.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.008

Confidence Interval

95% CI 1.22–4.26

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0023772

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