Figure 4

Molecular profiling of a Cav-1 deficient tumor micro-environment in breast cancer patients. (a) The transcriptional profiles of caveolin-1 (Cav-1)-positive (+) tumor stroma (N = 4) versus Cav-1-negative (-) tumor stroma (N = 7) were compared, via laser-capture microdissection. We identified 238 gene transcripts that were up-regulated and 232 gene transcripts that were down-regulated in the stroma of tumors showing a loss of Cav-1 expression. Note that the two patient populations are transcriptionally distinct. (b) The Cav-1-deficient stromal gene signature is associated with poor survival in estrogen receptor-positive and luminal A breast cancer patients. Note that the Cav-1-deficient stromal signature is clearly associated with decreased overall survival. (c) Heat maps of the gene transcripts associated with the response to hypoxia, glycolysis, and autophagy. Note that Cav-1-deficient stroma shows the up-regulation of hypoxia target genes (65 transcripts), glycolysis/pyruvate metabolism (15 transcripts), and autophagy (22 transcripts). Modified and reproduced with permission from [98].