Correlation of Hsa circ0016599 expression level with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Objective To analyze the expression of circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) Hsa circ0016599 in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its effect and predictive value for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Methods A total of 124 patients with TNBC who received NACT treatment before operation in Cangzhou Peoples Hospital from April 2022 to February 2024 were selected retrospectively as the research objects. The expression of Hsa circ0016599 was measured in the resected cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, and they were divided into low expression groups (≤15.12, n=59) and high expression group (＞15.12, n=65)according to the median relative expression value of Hsa circ0016599 (2^-ΔΔCt=15.12). The expression levels of Hsa circ0016599 in cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 124 TNBC patients and the total effective rates of NACT in low expression group and high expression group were compared. The risk factors affecting the efficacy of NACT in TNBC patients were screened to construct a nomogram model. Results In 124 TNBC patients, the expression level of Hsa circ0016599 in cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues (19.76±4.31 vs 14.15±2.74, t=12.232, P＜0.01). Compared with the low expression group, the high expression group had a higher proportion of patients with regional lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombus, and nerve invasion (P＜0.05), also had a lower total effective rate of NACT (35.38% vs 62.71%, χ²=9.248, P＜0.01）. High expression of Hsa circ0016599, presence of regional lymph node metastasis, vascular tumor thrombus, and nerve invasion were all risk factors affecting NACT efficacy in TNBC patients (OR=1.264, 1.239, 1.257, 1.247, P＜0.05). The calibration curve of Hsa circ0016599 expression level prediction model showed a good predictive value for NACT efficacy in TNBC patients. Conclusion Hsa circ0016599 is highly expressed in the cancer tissues of TNBC patients, and the total NACT effective rate of patients with high expression of Hsa circ0016599 is relatively low, indicating that Hsa circ0016599 has a certain predictive value for NACT efficacy.