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World J Clin Oncol. May 24, 2026; 17(5): 116662
Published online May 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i5.116662
Published online May 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i5.116662
Overexpression of low-molecular-weight caldesmon is associated with aggressive phenotypes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells
Alya AlNuaimi, Mohamad Hamad, Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Alya AlNuaimi, Vidhya A Nair, Noura Al-Khayyal, Ashna Suliman, Lara J Bou Malhab, Rifat Hamoudi, Mohamad Hamad, Iman M Talaat, Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Rifat Hamoudi, Iman M Talaat, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Co-corresponding authors: Alya AlNuaimi and Wael M Abdel-Rahman.
Author contributions: AlNuaimi A performed the laboratory experiments, conducted data analysis, drafted parts of the manuscript; Nair VA, Al-Khayyal N, and Suliman A assisted with and performed specific experimental procedures; Bou Malhab LJ, Hamoudi R, and Hamad M contributed to supervision and data analysis; Talaat IM supplied patient materials; Abdel-Rahman WM proposed and designed the study, secured funding, conducted the literature review, supervised the work, analyzed data, contributed to manuscript writing; AlNuaimi A and Abdel-Rahman WM contributed equally to this article, they are the co-corresponding authors of this manuscript; and all authors critically reviewed, revised, and approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of University of Sharjah Research and Ethics Committee, approval No. REC-18-01-27-01.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The underlying data (anonymized) are available from Alya AlNuaimi upon reasonable request at alya.alnuaimi@sharjah.ac.ae.
Corresponding author: Wael M Abdel-Rahman, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates. whassan@sharjah.ac.ae
Received: November 18, 2025
Revised: January 27, 2026
Accepted: March 2, 2026
Published online: May 24, 2026
Processing time: 184 Days and 9.4 Hours
Revised: January 27, 2026
Accepted: March 2, 2026
Published online: May 24, 2026
Processing time: 184 Days and 9.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Low-molecular-weight caldesmon (l-CAD) plays a key role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhancing cell motility and invasiveness. This study identifies CALD1 transcript variant 2 as the key isoform driving tumorigenesis in TNBC. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed l-CAD expression in the cytoplasm of cancer cells and stromal cells, with significant associations with lymphovascular invasion and receptor status. High CALD1 levels in TNBC are associated with poor prognosis and reduced disease-free survival, highlighting l-CAD as a potential driver of metastasis and a promising prognostic biomarker.