Proteomic analysis of HMGA1-silencing

HMGA1 is a well-established oncogene and is a master regulator in breast cancer cells controlling the shift from a non-tumorigenic epithelial-like phenotype towards a highly aggressive mesenchymal-like one. In this work we compared HMGA1-silenced versus control MDA-MB-231 by means of a label free shotgun proteomics approach and crossed these data with DNA microarray expression profile obtained on the same cells. Resulting data were then filtered for genes linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer gene expression meta-datasets. This workflow allows us to establish a small molecular signature composed by 21 members with a prognostic value as regards overall-, recurrence free-, and distant metastasis free-survival in breast cancer.