Decreased Degree Centrality and Regional Homogeneity after Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients with High δ-Catenin Expression

Motivation: Recent studies have shown that high expression of δ-catenin in breast cancer is often indicative of a poor prognosis. There is a lack of studies on δ-catenin and abnormal brain function. Goal(s): We hypothesized that high δ-catenin expressers have more severe brain function abnormalities. Approach: We prospectively and rigorously recruited 66 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who underwent BOLD fMRI scanning and image analysis before and after chemotherapy. Results: Results found that abnormal local neural synchronization in brain was more severely impaired after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with high δ-catenin expression, compared with those with low expression. Impact: The analysis results demonstrated that high δ-catenin expression was associated with extensive localized neural synchronization and functional abnormalities after chemotherapy. This contributes to further understanding of the deeper mechanisms of δ-catenin involvement in altered brain function in breast cancer.