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Abstract
Background: Androgen receptor (AR) is a potential therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We aimed to elucidate the association of AR expression with glucose metabolic features in TNBC.

Methods: Two independent datasets were analyzed: FDG PET data of our institution and a public dataset of GSE135565. In PET analysis, patients with TNBC who underwent pretreatment PET between Jan 2013 and Dec 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinicopathologic features and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of tumors were compared with AR expression. In GSE135565 dataset, glycolysis score was calculated by the pattern of glycolysis-related genes, and of which association with SUVmax and AR gene expression were analyzed.

Results: A total of 608 female patients were included in the PET data of our institution. SUVmax was lower in AR-positive tumors (P < 0.001) and correlated with lower AR expression (rho = -0.26, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, AR was a deterministic factor for low SUVmax (P = 0.012), along with other key clinicopathologic features. In the GSE135565 dataset, AR expression also exhibited a negative correlation with SUVmax (r = -0.34, P = 0.001) and the glycolysis score (r = -0.27, P = 0.013).

Conclusions: Low glucose metabolism is a signature of AR expression in TNBC. It is suggested that evaluation of AR expression status needs to be considered in clinical practice particularly in TNBC with low glucose metabolism.

Affiliations

Reeree Lee 1 2, Han-Byoel Lee 3 4 5, Jin Chul Paeng 2, Hongyoon Choi 2, Wonseok Whi 2, Wonshik Han 3 4 5, Ju Won Seok 1, Keon Wook Kang 2 5, Gi Jeong Cheon 2 5
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
3Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
4Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
5Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.