Unravelling transcriptomic complexity in breast cancer through modulation of DARPP-32 expression and signalling pathways.

DARPP-32 is a key regulator of protein-phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and protein kinase A (PKA), with its function dependent upon its phosphorylation state. We previously identified DKK1 and GRB7 as genes with linked expression using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis; here, we determine protein expression in a large cohort of early-stage breast cancer patients. Low levels of DARPP-32 Threonine-34 phosphorylation and DKK1 expression were significantly associated with poor patient prognosis, while low levels of GRB7 expression were linked to better survival outcomes.