Consistently, elevated expressions of MCT2 as well as β-hydroxybutyrate-induced genes, IL-1β and LCN2, are significantly (P values: MCT2/IL-1β=0.029; MCT2/LCN2=0.017, log-rank test) correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients in two independent cohorts. This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and breast carcinoma.