MAP3K1 expression is associated with progression and poor prognosis of hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer

Purpose In this study, we assessed whether the overexpression of MAP3K1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells, which affect the prognosis of hormone receptor (HR)–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative early stage breast cancer. Methods Two HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and T-47D) overexpressing MAP3K1 were transfected with two MAP3K1 short hairpin RNA plasmids (shMAP3K1 [#3] and shMAP3K1 [#5]). The proliferation, migration, and invasion of these cells were then examined. We assessed whether shMAP3K1 affects the cell cycle, levels of downstream signaling molecules (ERK, JNK, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB), and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic and hormonal agents. To assess the anti-tumor effect of MAP3K1 knockdown in the breast cancer orthotopic model, MCF7 and T-47D cells treated with or without shMAP3K1 (#3) and shMAP3K1 (#5) were inoculated into the mammary fat pads of mice. In total, 182 patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative T1 and T2 breast cancer and 0–3 nodal metastases were included. Additionally, 73 patients with T1 and T2 breast cancer and negative nodes who received adjuvant endocrine therapy alone were selected as an independent validation cohort. Results In both cell lines, shMAP3K1 (#3) and shMAP3K1 (#5) significantly reduced cell growth, migration, and invasion by downregulating MMP-9 and by blocking the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and its regulatory molecule cyclin B1. Moreover, both shMAP3K1 (#3) and shMAP3K1 (#5) downregulated ERK-, JNK-, p38 MAPK-, and NF-κB-dependent gene transcription and enhanced the sensitivity of both cell lines to doxorubicin, docetaxel, and tamoxifen. We observed that both shMAP3K1 (#3) and shMAP3K1 (#5) inhibited tumor growth compared with that in the scrambled group of MCF7 and T-47D cell orthotopic tumors. Patients with MAP3K1 overexpression exhibited significantly poorer 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) (70.4% vs. 88.6%, p  = 0.003) and overall survival (OS) (81.9% vs. 96.3%, p  = 0.001) than those without MAP3K1 overexpression. Furthermore, phospho-ERK ( p  < 0.001) and phospho-JNK ( p  < 0.001) expressions were significantly associated with MAP3K1 expression, and both phospho-ERK and phospho-JNK expressions were significantly correlated with poor 10-year DFS and OS. These biological findings, including a significant association between DFS and OS, and the expressions of MAP3K1, phospho-ERK, and phospho-JNK were further validated in an independent cohort. Multivariate analysis identified MAP3K1 expression as an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS and OS. Conclusion Our results indicate that the overexpression of MAP3K1 plays a major role in the poor prognosis of HR-positive, HER2-negative early stage breast cancer.