Livin gene expression in breast carcinoma: correlation with prognostic factors and patient outcome

Background: Livin, the most recently identified inhibitor of apoptosis protein, is one of the most tumour-specific genes in the human genome. Its role in breast cancer progression remains unknown. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of livin gene in human breast cancer tissues and examine its correlation with prognostic factors, including patient outcome. Patients and methods: A total of 34 female patients with breast cancer enroled for modified radical mastectomy or conservative breast surgery were included in this study. The surgically resected breast cancer tissue specimens were analysed for the expression of livin protein by immunohistochemistry. All study patients received adjuvant treatment and were followed up for disease-free and overall survival. Results: The positive expression pattern of livin protein was found in 88.2% of breast cancer specimens analysed. Livin gene expression was significantly correlated with tumour size (P≤0.05). No significant correlation was found between livin gene expression and patient age, menstrual status, tumour grade, lymph node metastasis, oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor hormonal status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status (P 0.05). No significant association was found between livin gene expression and triple-negative breast cancer cases (P 0.05). There was a significant correlation between livin gene expression and TNM tumour stage (P≤0.05). Patients with livin-positive breast cancer had a poor disease-free survival and a shorter overall survival as compared patients with livin-negative tumours, but the difference was not significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: Overexpression of livin gene may play a prominent role in breast cancer progression. It could be useful as a biomarker in breast cancer therapy.