Background: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit VB (COX5B), a subunit of mammalian COX, takes roles in COX assembling and functions. Online database predicts high COX5B transcription may be associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS). However, the clinical implications of COX5B in breast cancer remain unclear.
Methods: We carried out immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays of 244 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma to detected COX5B expression.
Results: Our results suggest that COX5B protein level might be associated with tumor size. COX5B overexpression indicated a worse DFS (p < 0.05) in breast cancer. Furthermore, high COX5B expression may act as an independent factor for worse DFS in breast cancer.
Conclusions: Cumulatively, our findings suggest that COX5B might serve as an important prognostic factor for breast cancer.
Keywords: COX5B; IHC; breast cancer; disease-free survival; mitochondria.