Targeting SH3GL1 for prognosis and immune response in breast cancer.

The cuproptosis-related gene (CRG) SH3GL1 is identified as a pivotal regulator in breast cancer (BRCA) progression and immune regulation in this study. Through gene expression profiling and meta-analysis of public datasets, SH3GL1 was found to be overexpressed in BRCA tumor tissues and correlated with poor prognosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing pinpointed SH3GL1's expression in epithelial cells and its critical interactions with immune cells, particularly T cells and monocytes. Functional experiments confirmed SH3GL1's role in promoting immune cell migration and modulating drug sensitivity. Moreover, high SH3GL1 expression was linked to reduced immunotherapy response, as revealed by TIDE scoring, suggesting its contribution to the immune microenvironment complexity in high-risk BRCA groups. These results emphasize SH3GL1's dual role as a prognostic biomarker and a target for therapeutic intervention in BRCA, providing new insights into personalized cancer treatment approaches.