The use of MFAP2 for diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by significant heterogeneity, presenting a formidable challenge with a poor prognosis and a deficiency of efficacious treatment options.

METHODS: In this comprehensive study, we investigated the multifaceted role of Microfibril-associated glycoprotein 2 (MFAP2) in TNBC using a combination of bioinformatics analysis involving Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), OncoDB, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), TIMER, STRING, DAVID, and GSCA databases and in vitro experiments, such as cell culture, MFAP2 gene knockdown, RT-qPCR, western Blot, colony formation, Cell counting kit-8, and wound healing assays.

RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated a significant up-regulation of MFAP2 mRNA in TNBC cell lines, emphasizing its potential as a diagnostic biomarker. Validation across multiple datasets further affirmed the elevated expression of MFAP2 in TNBC tissues, underscoring its prognostic relevance. Notably, our study revealed a correlation between MFAP2 expression and immune cell infiltration, suggesting its role in shaping the tumor microenvironment. STRING analysis unveiled interactions with proteins involved in elastic fibers and extracellular matrix constituents. Furthermore, KEGG pathway analysis highlighted enrichment in the TGF-beta signaling pathway, implicating MFAP2 in key cancer-related processes. Drug sensitivity analysis identified potential therapeutic targets, supporting MFAP2's utility in personalized treatment strategies. In vitro experiments corroborated the oncogenic impact of MFAP2, demonstrating its influence on TNBC cell proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSION: These comprehensive findings position MFAP2 as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in TNBC, offering valuable insight for future research and clinical application.