Tumor Cell JAGGED-1 Promotes Lymph Node Metastasis and Predicts Recurrence in Lymph Node Positive Breast Cancer Patients [MDA231-P_MDA231-LN]

We investigated JAGGED1 (JAG1) as a promoter of lymph node metastasis and a prognostic biomarker in metastatic lymph node specimens. Experimental Design: We used mouse models to assess the role of JAG1 expression in human and mouse breast cancer cells on lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastatic potential, transcriptional profiles, and tumor interactions with lymphatic endothelium.

We examined breast and lymph node samples from 284 breast cancer patients to determine the correlative and prognostic value of tumoral JAG1 expression in the lymph node. Results: In matched human breast tumor and lymph node samples, tumor cells that invaded lymph nodes showed higher JAG1 expression than their associated primary tumors (P value < 0.0001). In multiple models, breast cancer cells with high JAG1 expression showed increased lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymph node metastatic outgrowth, and migration through lymphatic endothelium.