PNP as a Metabolic and Prognostic Driver of Breast Cancer Aggressiveness: Insights from Patient Tissue and Cell Models

Objectives: Breast Cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women, largely due to metastasis. This study aims to explore the role of purine nucleoside Phosphorylase (PNP), a key enzyme in purine metabolism, in the aggressiveness and metastatic behavior of BC.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis was performed using in silico transcriptomic data (n = 2509 patients), immunohistochemical profiling of BC tissues (n = 103), and validation through western blotting in multiple BC cell lines. Gene expression and survival analyses were conducted using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2), and the cBioPortal for Cancer genomics (cBioPortal) platforms. Correlations between PNP and key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, molecular subtypes, tumor grades, and stages were examined.

Results: PNP was significantly overexpressed in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive and triple-negative BCs compared to luminal subtypes. High PNP levels were strongly associated with advanced BC stages, high-grade tumors, EMT phenotypes, and poor overall survival. Notably, HER-2 inhibition suppressed PNP expression, while PNP gene silencing induced HER-2 upregulation, revealing a reciprocal regulatory loop. Dual inhibition of PNP and HER-2 resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability compared to HER-2 inhibition alone.

Conclusion: Collectively, PNP emerges as a promising biomarker of BC aggressiveness and progression. Its reciprocal interaction with HER-2 underscores its potential as a therapeutic target. Dual targeting of PNP and HER-2 may offer a novel strategy for improving outcomes in aggressive BC subtypes.