Transcriptomic Analysis of the Role of NFIA in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis

doi:10.19586/j.2095-2341.2026.0016

Current Biotechnology ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (3): 706-718.DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2026.0016

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Transcriptomic Analysis of the Role of NFIA in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis

Mengjie DONG¹(), Peiwen FAN², Ruozheng WANG²^,³()

^1.Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University，Urumqi 830011，China
^2.Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Oncology，Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University，Urumqi 830011，China
^3.Clinical Key Specialty of Radiotherapy of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region，Urumqi 830011，China

Received:2026-01-23 Accepted:2026-03-31 Online:2026-05-25 Published:2026-07-14
Contact: Ruozheng WANG

Abstract

Abstract:

This study systematically investigated the expression characteristics of NFIA in HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis （BCBM） and its association with patient prognosis， as well as its potential roles in the tumor microenvironment （TME）， aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets. NFIA expression patterns and their prognostic relevance were analyzed using multiple public databases， and immunohistochemistry （IHC） validation was performed on paired clinical samples. Furthermore， by integrating public datasets with our single-cell transcriptomic data， we systematically analyzed the functional states of NFIA-high cell subpopulations and their interactions within the TME. The results demonstrated that NFIA was significantly upregulated in HER2-positive BCBM and that its high expression was closely associated with poor patient prognosis. Single-cell analyses further revealed that NFIA-high tumor epithelial cells exhibited pronounced genomic instability and highly malignant features， accompanied by activation of pathways related to invasion and proliferation. In addition， NFIA-high cells acted as key modulators within the TME by regulating angiogenesis， immune suppression， and extracellular matrix remodeling. Collectively， NFIA high expression defines a highly malignant tumor epithelial cell subpopulation in HER2-positive BCBM and promotes tumor progression through TME remodeling， providing a potential molecular target for precision therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis.

Key words: NFIA, HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis, single-cell transcriptome, tumor microenvironment

CLC Number:

Q786

Mengjie DONG, Peiwen FAN, Ruozheng WANG. Transcriptomic Analysis of the Role of NFIA in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis[J]. Current Biotechnology, 2026, 16(3): 706-718.

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URL: https://swjsjz.magtechjournal.com/EN/10.19586/j.2095-2341.2026.0016

https://swjsjz.magtechjournal.com/EN/Y2026/V16/I3/706

Figures/Tables 7

Table 1 Clinicopathological characteristics of two patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer by single cell sequencing

病人ID	性别	年龄	月经状态	转移部位	转移类型	既往治疗
BCBM-1	女性	47	绝经前	脑	异时性转移	化疗
BCBM-2	女性	45	绝经前	脑	异时性转移	化疗

Table 2 Clinical and pathological characteristics of 27 immunohistochemistry patients

变量	特征	总体（n=27)	百分比/%
肿瘤部位	原发乳腺癌	12	30.8
	乳腺癌脑转移	27	100.0
临床分期	临床分期Ⅰ	2	7.4
	临床分期Ⅱ	8	29.6
	临床分期Ⅲ	12	44.4
	临床分期Ⅳ	5	18.6
年龄（岁）		47（40~66）
月经状态	绝经前	19	70.3
	绝经后	8	29.7
分子分型	Luminal型	13	48.1
	HER2阳性型	11	40.7
	TNBC	3	11.2
组织学类型	浸润性导管癌	27	100.0
	其他	0
转移模式	异时性脑转移	27	100.0
既往系统治疗	药物治疗	20	74.1
	放疗	22	81.5

Fig. 1 Expression of NFIA in HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis and its correlation with prognosis

Fig. 2 Immunohistochemical validation of NFIA expression in HER2-positive BCBM and its correlation with prognosis

Fig. 3 The marker effect of NFIA in highly malignant tumors

Fig. 4 Correlation of NFIA expression levels with the functional states of tumor cells

Fig. 5 The effects of NFIA expression level on TME

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Transcriptomic Analysis of the Role of NFIA in HER2-positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis

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