mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models

Abstract The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer (BC) remains incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of large-scale microarray transcriptomic datasets to evaluate whether the mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor gene, relative to those of the estrogen...

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Main Authors: Diego Prieto, Milena Rondón-Lagos, Paola Cruz-Tapias, Andrés Rincón-Riveros, Wilson Rubiano, Jairo De la Peña, Elizabeth Vargas, Victoria E. Villegas, Nelson Rangel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06856-3
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author Diego Prieto
Milena Rondón-Lagos
Paola Cruz-Tapias
Andrés Rincón-Riveros
Wilson Rubiano
Jairo De la Peña
Elizabeth Vargas
Victoria E. Villegas
Nelson Rangel
author_facet Diego Prieto
Milena Rondón-Lagos
Paola Cruz-Tapias
Andrés Rincón-Riveros
Wilson Rubiano
Jairo De la Peña
Elizabeth Vargas
Victoria E. Villegas
Nelson Rangel
author_sort Diego Prieto
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer (BC) remains incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of large-scale microarray transcriptomic datasets to evaluate whether the mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor gene, relative to those of the estrogen receptor gene (AR/ESR1 ratio) and the progesterone receptor gene (AR/PGR ratio), can help differentiate BC tumor subtypes. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR assays to assess the mRNA levels of the AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios in four cell lines representative of different BC subtypes (MCF7, BT474, MDA-MB453, and MDA-MB231), as well as in breast tissue from a small group of patients (11 cases) stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Our results showed that higher AR gene expression relative to ESR1 and PGR (≥ 2.0 and ≥ 1.54, respectively) were associated with BC patients classified under the Luminal B and HER2-enriched subtypes. Positive values of AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios were also observed in the ER-negative (ER-) cell line MDA-MB453, as well as in tumor tissue from ER- BC patients. Our findings confirm that higher or even positive AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios may be associated with BC cases exhibiting more aggressive clinical and biological features, leading to a worse prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-693bb71f05d94b2ca818436b3e70ab752025-08-20T03:45:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-06856-3mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental modelsDiego Prieto0Milena Rondón-Lagos1Paola Cruz-Tapias2Andrés Rincón-Riveros3Wilson Rubiano4Jairo De la Peña5Elizabeth Vargas6Victoria E. Villegas7Nelson Rangel8School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de ColombiaSchool of Biological Sciences, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de ColombiaDepartment of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil, LaCardioBacteriology Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Colegio Mayor de CundinamarcaHospital Universitario Mayor-Méderi, Universidad del RosarioHospital Universitario Mayor-Méderi, Universidad del RosarioHospital Universitario Mayor-Méderi, Universidad del RosarioCentro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del RosarioDepartamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad JaverianaAbstract The role of the androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer (BC) remains incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of large-scale microarray transcriptomic datasets to evaluate whether the mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor gene, relative to those of the estrogen receptor gene (AR/ESR1 ratio) and the progesterone receptor gene (AR/PGR ratio), can help differentiate BC tumor subtypes. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR assays to assess the mRNA levels of the AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios in four cell lines representative of different BC subtypes (MCF7, BT474, MDA-MB453, and MDA-MB231), as well as in breast tissue from a small group of patients (11 cases) stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Our results showed that higher AR gene expression relative to ESR1 and PGR (≥ 2.0 and ≥ 1.54, respectively) were associated with BC patients classified under the Luminal B and HER2-enriched subtypes. Positive values of AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios were also observed in the ER-negative (ER-) cell line MDA-MB453, as well as in tumor tissue from ER- BC patients. Our findings confirm that higher or even positive AR/ESR1 and AR/PGR ratios may be associated with BC cases exhibiting more aggressive clinical and biological features, leading to a worse prognosis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06856-3Breast cancerMolecular subtypesAndrogen receptorEstrogen receptorProgesterone receptorMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Diego Prieto
Milena Rondón-Lagos
Paola Cruz-Tapias
Andrés Rincón-Riveros
Wilson Rubiano
Jairo De la Peña
Elizabeth Vargas
Victoria E. Villegas
Nelson Rangel
mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
Scientific Reports
Breast cancer
Molecular subtypes
Androgen receptor
Estrogen receptor
Progesterone receptor
Meta-analysis
title mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
title_full mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
title_fullStr mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
title_full_unstemmed mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
title_short mRNA ratios of AR to ESR1 and PGR distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
title_sort mrna ratios of ar to esr1 and pgr distinguish breast cancer subtypes based on public datasets and experimental models
topic Breast cancer
Molecular subtypes
Androgen receptor
Estrogen receptor
Progesterone receptor
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06856-3
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