Integrated Bioinformatics and Experimental Approaches Identified the Role of NPPA in the Proliferation and the Malignant Behavior of Breast Cancer

Figure 2

Identification of NPPA as an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer patients. (a) Heatmap showing the marker genes in SC3 clustering results. (b) Volcano plot showing the significance of genes in Cluster 1 vs. Cluster 2 and in SC3 clustering result. Mutually significant genes were defined as marker genes and were labeled in red. (c) Heatmap showing the expression of ECM marker genes in breast cancer patients. Three major clusters of patients were identified as high, medium, and low ECM levels. (d) Kaplan-Meier analysis comparing the DSS and PFI of the high-, medium-, and low-ECM breast cancer patients. (e) Multivariate Cox regression results showing the independent marker genes and clinical features for the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Risk factors for OS, DSS, DFI, and PFI were calculated with respect to the Cox regression results. (f) Kaplan-Meier analysis comparing the high vs. low risk scores in OS, DSS, DFI, and PFI was demonstrated in breast cancer patients. (g, h) Kaplan-Meier analysis comparing the high vs. low NPPA in OS, DSS, DFI, and PFI was demonstrated in breast cancer patients (g) or in breast cancer patients stratified by postoperative radiation therapy.

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