GATA3 expression and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters in invasive breast carcinomas

Prognostic significance of TP53 and PIK3CA mutations analyzed by next-generation sequencing in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women globally. It is a heterogeneous disease characterized by mutations in several genes. Several gene panels have been applied to assess the risk of breast cancer and determine the appropriate treatment. As a powerful tool, Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been widely utilized in cancer research due to its advantages, including high speed, high throughput, and high accuracy. In this study, we aim to analyze the correlation between somatic mutations in breast cancer, analyzed using NGS, and the prognosis of patients. Between May 2018 and May 2019, a total of 313 patients with breast cancer underwent surgical treatment, which included total mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery. Among these patients, 265 were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. In this study, we analyzed the NGS results, clinicopathological characteristics, and their correlation with prognosis. Using a gene panel, we examined 143 somatic mutations in solid cancers. Notably, the study population included patients who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The mean age of the patients was 53.1 (±10.28) years, and the median follow-up time was 48 months (range, 8-54). Among the 265 patients, 68 had received prior systemic therapy. Of these, 203 underwent breast-conserving surgery, and 62 underwent a mastectomy. Various somatic mutations were observed in NGS, with the most frequent mutation being PIK3CA mutations, which accounted for 44% of all mutations. TP53 mutations were the second most frequent, and ERBB2 mutations were the third most frequent. TP53 mutations were associated with poor disease-free survival (P = .027), while PIK3CA mutations were associated with better disease-free survival (P = .035) than PIK3CA wild-type. In our study, we identified various somatic mutations in breast cancer. Particularly, we found that TP53 and PIK3CA mutations are potentially associated with the prognosis of breast cancer. These findings suggest that the presence of specific mutations may have implications for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer. Further research and validation are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the role of these mutations and their mechanisms in prognosis prediction.

A comprehensive analysis of GATA3 expression in carcinomas of various origins with emphasis on lung carcinomas

GATA3 is a transcription factor involved in the embryogenesis of multiple human tissues and organs and in maintaining cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis in the adult organism. GATA3 is also involved in carcinogenesis and is regarded as a sensitive marker for urothelial and breast carcinomas, although its expression in carcinomas of non-breast/urothelial origin has been frequently reported. In this study, we sought to examine the extent and intensity of GATA3 expression in various carcinomas, mainly lung, urothelial, breast, and various other primary sites. Patients with breast carcinoma (n=40), carcinoma of the urinary bladder/renal pelvis (n=40), lung carcinoma (n=110), and various other origins (n=45) were included in the study. 165 patients had a primary tumor diagnosis, and 70 cases had a metastatic tumor diagnosis. Our results showed that GATA3 expression was significantly more common in carcinomas of the breast, urinary bladder, and renal pelvis compared to all other origins. All primary and 93% of metastatic urinary bladder carcinomas and 94% of primary and 80% of metastatic breast carcinomas expressed GATA3. Expression was lower in the non-urothelial histology of urinary primaries and in triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBC). Focal staining, mostly faint, was seen in 5.6% of the primary lung adenocarcinomas and 35% of the primary lung squamous cell carcinomas. More extensive and intense staining was seen in 3.7% of the primary lung adenocarcinomas and 12% of the primary lung squamous cell carcinomas. Expression, mostly focal, was also seen in 30% of the metastatic lung carcinomas. Finally, high expression was seen in 12.5% of the other tumors (one metastatic pancreatic carcinoma, one metastatic salivary gland adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified, one metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, one primary uterine cervix serous carcinoma, and one squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck), and focal expression was present in another 22% of them. No ideal cut-off for positivity for GATA3 staining could be identified, as increasing the cut-off in either the extent or the intensity of staining increased specificity but decreased sensitivity. In conclusion, our study shows that although GATA3 staining is very helpful in everyday practice in determining the breast/urothelial origin of carcinomas, there are two caveats to its use: the first is that nonclassical histologies of urothelial carcinomas and TNBC may be negative for the marker, and secondly, carcinomas of various origins may show (although rarely) intense positivity.

GATA3 Expression in Human Tumors: A Tissue Microarray Study on 16,557 Tumors

INTRODUCTION

GATA3 is a transcription factor involved in epithelial cell differentiation. GATA3 immunostaining is used as a diagnostic marker for breast and urothelial cancer but can also occur in other neoplasms.

METHODS

To evaluate GATA3 in normal and tumor tissues, a tissue microarray containing 16,557 samples from 131 different tumor types and subtypes and 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

GATA3 positivity was found in 69 different tumor types including 23 types (18%) with at least one strongly positive tumor. Highest positivity rates occurred in noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma (92-99%), lobular carcinoma (98%), carcinoma of no special type of the breast (92%), basal cell carcinoma of the skin (97%), invasive urothelial carcinoma (73%), T-cell lymphoma (23%), adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland (16%), squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (16%), and colorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma (12%). In breast cancer, low GATA3 staining was linked to high pT stage (p = 0.03), high BRE grade (p < 0.0001), HER2 overexpression (p = 0.0085), estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity (p < 0.0001 each), and reduced survival (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that GATA3 positivity can occur in various tumor entities. Low levels of GATA3 reflect cancer progression and poor patient prognosis in breast cancer.

Value of Proline, Glutamic Acid, and Leucine-Rich Protein 1 and GATA Binding Protein 3 Expression in Breast Cancer: An Immunohistochemical study

GATA binding protein 3 was more sensitive than traditional markers such as gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 and mammaglobin for identifying primary and metastatic breast carcinomas, but its significance decreased in triple-negative breast cancer. Recent studies showed a high expression rate of proline glutamic acid and leucine-rich protein in breast cancer and their superiority over GATA3 in triple-negative breast cancer. Our study provided new insights into the diagnostic and prognostic roles of PELP1 and GATA3 in primary and metastatic breast cancer. An immunohistochemical assay was carried out using PELP1 and GATA3 in 60 cases of primary breast cancer and 15 metastatic. Invasive carcinoma of no special type was the predominant type (80%). The majority of cases were grade 3 (68.3%). GATA3 expression was 83.3% positive in primary breast carcinomas and 73.5% positive in metastatic breast carcinomas. In comparison, PELP1 had a 96.7% positive expression rate in primary breast carcinomas and an 86.7% positive expression rate in metastasis. There was a statistically significant agreement between GATA3 and PELP1 in the diagnosis of the cases. PELP1 is a significantly higher proportion of both primary and metastatic breast carcinomas than GATA3. In breast cancer, there was a strong association between favorable prognostic factors and GATA3 expression, with evidence of an inverse association with Ki-67 overexpression.

Role of GATA3 in tumor diagnosis: A review

GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) belongs to a family of transcription factors comprising six members. These proteins identify G-A-T-A containing sequences in the target gene and bind to DNA target via two zinc-finger domains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of GATA3 in the diagnosis of tumors and its value as a prognostic marker. To perform this review, a comprehensive search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases from 1985 to 2020. Articles were considered thoroughly by independent reviewers and data were extracted in predefined forms. Final synthesis was conducted by using appropriate data from included articles in each topic. Studies have shown that GATA3 has a critical role in the development of epithelial structures in both embryonic and adult tissues. The majority of studies regarding GATA3 expression in tumor evaluation focused on breast and urothelial neoplasms, whether primary or metastatic. Its sensitivity in these neoplasms has been reported to be high and made this marker more valuable than other available immunohistochemistry markers. However, GATA3 expression was not restricted to these tumors. Studies have shown that GATA3 immunostaining could be a useful tool in various tumors in kidney, salivary gland, endocrine system, hematopoietic system, and skin. GATA3 can also be used as a useful prognostic tool. Although GATA3 is a multi-specific immunohistochemical stain, it is a valuable marker in the panel for confirming many epithelial or mesenchymal neoplasms as both a diagnostic and prognostic tool.

Transcription Factors: The Fulcrum Between Cell Development and Carcinogenesis

Higher eukaryotic development is a complex and tightly regulated process, whereby transcription factors (TFs) play a key role in controlling the gene regulatory networks. Dysregulation of these regulatory networks has also been associated with carcinogenesis. Transcription factors are key enablers of cancer stemness, which support the maintenance and function of cancer stem cells that are believed to act as seeds for cancer initiation, progression and metastasis, and treatment resistance. One key area of research is to understand how these factors interact and collaborate to define cellular fate during embryogenesis as well as during tumor development. This review focuses on understanding the role of TFs in cell development and cancer. The molecular mechanisms of cell fate decision are of key importance in efforts towards developing better protocols for directed differentiation of cells in research and medicine. We also discuss the dysregulation of TFs and their role in cancer progression and metastasis, exploring TF networks as direct or indirect targets for therapeutic intervention, as well as specific TFs' potential as biomarkers for predicting and monitoring treatment responses.

GATA3 as an Adjunct Prognostic Factor in Breast Cancer Patients with Less Aggressive Disease: A Study with a Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression is positively correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) expression, but its prognostic value as an independent factor remains unclear. Thus, we undertook the current study to evaluate the expression of GATA3 and its prognostic value in a large series of breast carcinomas (BCs) with long-term follow-up.

METHODS

A total of 702 consecutive primary invasive BCs resected between 1989 and 1993 in our institution were arranged in tissue microarrays, immunostained for ER, progesterone receptor (PR), ki-67, HER2, p53, and GATA3, and scored. Clinico-pathological data were retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

GATA3 was evaluable in 608 (87%) of the 702 cases; it was positive in 413 (68%) cases and negative in 195 (32%) cases. GATA3 positivity was significantly associated with lower grade (p < 0.0001), size (p = 0.0463), stage (p = 0.0049), ER+ (p < 0.0001), PR+ (p < 0.0001), HER2- (p = 0.0175), and p53 wild-type pattern (p < 0.0001). The median follow-up was 183 months, GATA3 positivity was associated with better overall survival (HR 0.70, p = 0.001), and its prognostic value was retained in a multivariate analysis. The association with better overall survival was stronger in patients with grade 1-2, pT1-2, pN0, stage I-II, ER+, PR+, ki-67 < 20%, HER2-, a wild-type p53 immunohistochemical pattern, and in luminal B BC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that GATA3 is a positive prognostic marker in BC patients, especially in patients with biologically less aggressive BC. Incorporating GATA3 immunohistochemistry into routine practice could help further stratify BC patients for their risk.

GATA3 somatic mutations are associated with clinicopathological features and expression profile in TCGA breast cancer patients

The effect of somatic mutations and the gene expression profiles on the prognosis is well documented in cancer research. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of GATA3 somatic mutations with tumor features, survival, and expression profiles in breast cancer. Clinicopathological information was compared between TCGA-BRCA patients with GATA3-mutant and non-mutant tumors in all patients as well as in ER-positive subgroup. Cox-regression method was used to evaluate the association of the GATA3 mutation status with overall survival time. Differential gene expression, functional annotation, and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed using edgeR, Metascape, DAVID, STRING and CytoNCA. GATA3-mutant and non-mutant samples had significantly different clinicopathological features (p < 0.05). While GATA3 mutation status was not associated with the overall survival in the entire cohort (p_adj = 0.52), the GATA3-wild type ER-positive cases had a better prognosis than mutant ones (p_adj = 0.04). GATA3 expression was higher in tumors than normal tissues. Several pathways were different between mutant and non-mutant groups (p < 0.05). Interleukin-6 was found as the highest scored gene in both comparisons (normal vs. mutant and normal vs. non-mutant groups) in the entire patient and in the ER-positive subgroup, suggesting the association of IL6 with breast tumorigenesis. These findings suggest that GATA3 mutations can be associated with several tumor characteristics and influence the pattern of gene expression. However, GATA3 mutation status seems to be a prognostic factor for the disease only in ER-positive patients.

The genomic landscape of estrogen receptor α binding sites in mouse mammary gland

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is the major driving transcription factor in the mammary gland development as well as breast cancer initiation and progression. However, the genomic landscape of ERα binding sites in the normal mouse mammary gland has not been completely elucidated. Here, we mapped genome-wide ERα binding events by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) in the mouse mammary gland in response to estradiol. We identified 6237 high confidence ERα binding sites in two biological replicates and showed that many of these were located at distal enhancer regions. Furthermore, we discovered 3686 unique genes in the mouse genome that recruit ER in response to estradiol. Interrogation of ER-DNA binding sites in ER-positive luminal epithelial cells showed that the ERE, PAX2, SF1, and AP1 motifs were highly enriched at distal enhancer regions. In addition, comprehensive transcriptome analysis by RNA-seq revealed that 493 genes are differentially regulated by acute treatment with estradiol in the mouse mammary gland in vivo. Through integration of RNA-seq and ERα ChIP-seq data, we uncovered a novel ERα targetome in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Taken together, our study has identified the genomic landscape of ERα binding events in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, our study also highlights the cis-regulatory elements and cofactors that are involved in estrogen signaling and may contribute to ductal elongation in the normal mouse mammary gland.

Comprehensive analysis of the GATA transcription factor gene family in breast carcinoma using gene microarrays, online databases and integrated bioinformatics

Integrated studies of accumulated data can be performed to obtain more reliable information and more feasible measures for investigating the potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of breast cancer and exploring related molecular mechanisms. Our study aimed to explore the GATA family members involved in breast cancer by integrating data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and other online databases. We performed an integrated analysis of published studies from GEO and analyzed clinical data from TCGA and GTEx to evaluate the clinical significance and prognosis values of the GATA family in breast cancer. GATA3 was found to be upregulated and exhibited a favorable value in the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. Through this study, we identified possible GATA3-correlated genes and core pathways that play an important role, which requires further investigation in breast cancer.

Notch3 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer via a novel mechanism, upregulation of GATA-3 expression

Notch3 and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) have been, individually, shown to maintain luminal phenotype and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancers. In the present study, we report that Notch3 expression positively correlates with that of GATA-3, and both are associated with estrogen receptor-α (ERα) expression in breast cancer cells. We demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that Notch3 suppressed EMT and breast cancer metastasis by activating GATA-3 transcription. Furthermore, Notch3 knockdown downregulated GATA-3 and promoted EMT; while overexpression of Notch3 intracellular domain upregulated GATA-3 and inhibited EMT, leading to a suppression of metastasis in vivo. Moreover, inhibition or overexpression of GATA-3 partially reversed EMT or mesenchymal-epithelial transition induced by Notch3 alterations. In breast cancer patients, high GATA-3 expression is associated with higher Notch3 expression and lower lymph node metastasis, especially for hormone receptor (HR) positive cancers. Herein, we demonstrate a novel mechanism whereby Notch3 inhibit EMT by transcriptionally upregulating GATA-3 expression, at least in part, leading to the suppression of cancer metastasis in breast cancers. Our findings expand our current knowledge on Notch3 and GATA-3's roles in breast cancer metastasis.