hERG1 channel expression in breast cancer: association with molecular parameters, pathological features and survival

We provide evidence that hERG1 is expressed in all the BC samples analyzed. hERG1 expression was significantly associated with Estrogen Receptors (p=0.008), Ki67 proliferative index (p=0.038), molecular subtype (p=0.003), and tumor grading (p=0.020). Moreover, patients with high hERG1 scoring experienced a lower recurrence rate than score 1 patients (p=0.045); when performing a survival analysis taking into account Local Relapse Free-Survival (LRFS) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) we showed that patients with high hERG1 expression have a longer LRFS and PFS, although statistical significance was not reached (p= 0.124 and p=0.195, respectively). hERG1 scoring was also higher in patients who developed distant metastases, although Metastases-Free Survival (MFS) p-value was not statistically significant (p=0.071). The results of this pilot study indicate that hERG1 expression is associated with clinical features in BC thus it might be an additional tool for the management of BC. Nevertheless, further investigations are warranted to better clarify hERG1 role and usefulness in BC.