Fig. 2

Quantitative expression of DSC2 in primary breast cancer protein lysates and its correlation with clinicopathological variables. A Western blots depicting representative expression of DSC2 in a variety of primary breast cancer samples. Protein lysates from the breast cancer cell line T47D, as well as the breast cancer lysate UPA 497, were used as positive controls for DSC2. β-actin protein expression was quantified as a loading control. Tumours with high DSC2 levels are significantly associated with the TNBC molecular subtype (B all WB DSC2 bands; p = 0.017 and E upper WB DSC2 band; p = 0.023). A significant association was observed between high DSC2 expression and the development of pulmonary metastases (C all WB DSC2 bands; p = 0.049 and F upper band; p = 0.052). Disease-free survival in accordance with DSC2 expression levels: Patients with a moderate to high DSC2 expression level have a significantly shorter disease-free survival, compared with patients whose tumours possess no or little DSC2 (D all WB DSC2 bands; p = 0.049 and G upper WB DSC2 band; p = 0.157). H Immunohistochemical analysis of primary breast cancer tissue confirmed a significant association between high DSC2 levels and TNBC subtype (p = 0.046). Representative DSC2 staining results from luminal (I–J), HER2 positive (K, L) and TNBC (M, N)