BACKGROUND: Expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) as determined by immunohistochemistry of tumor tissue is currently the most clinically useful test to predict hormone responsiveness of breast cancer. Thirty percent of ERalpha-positive breast cancers do not respond to hormonal therapy. GATA-3 is a transcription factor that is expressed in association with ERalpha and there is evidence that GATA factors influence response to estrogen. In this pilot study, we investigated whether GATA-3 expression is associated with hormone response in breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Breast cancer tissue was stained for GATA-3 expression by immunohistochemistry in ERalpha-positive cancers from 28 patients, 14 of whom were defined as hormone unresponsive (cases) and 14 of whom were age-matched controls with hormone-responsive, ERalpha-positive cancers (controls). RESULTS: Comparing cases and controls, there were no differences in expression of ERalpha; progesterone receptor, ErbB2; or tumor grade. Using 20% nuclear staining to characterize tumors as GATA-3 positive or GATA-3 negative, 6 of 14 (43%) cancers in the hormone-unresponsive group and none of the controls were classified as GATA-3 negative (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-infinity; p = 0.031). Using different cut points to characterize GATA-3 positivity yielded very similar results, indicating a positive association between lack of GATA-3 expression and lack of response to hormonal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that analyzing ERalpha-positive breast tumors for GATA-3 using immunohistochemistry might improve prediction of hormone responsiveness. The association between GATA-3 expression and hormone response suggests that GATA-3 may play a role in mechanisms controlling response to estrogen.
BACKGROUND: Expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) as determined by immunohistochemistry of tumor tissue is currently the most clinically useful test to predict hormone responsiveness of breast cancer. Thirty percent of ERalpha-positive breast cancers do not respond to hormonal therapy. GATA-3 is a transcription factor that is expressed in association with ERalpha and there is evidence that GATA factors influence response to estrogen. In this pilot study, we investigated whether GATA-3 expression is associated with hormone response in breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN:Breast cancer tissue was stained for GATA-3 expression by immunohistochemistry in ERalpha-positive cancers from 28 patients, 14 of whom were defined as hormone unresponsive (cases) and 14 of whom were age-matched controls with hormone-responsive, ERalpha-positive cancers (controls). RESULTS: Comparing cases and controls, there were no differences in expression of ERalpha; progesterone receptor, ErbB2; or tumor grade. Using 20% nuclear staining to characterize tumors as GATA-3 positive or GATA-3 negative, 6 of 14 (43%) cancers in the hormone-unresponsive group and none of the controls were classified as GATA-3 negative (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-infinity; p = 0.031). Using different cut points to characterize GATA-3 positivity yielded very similar results, indicating a positive association between lack of GATA-3 expression and lack of response to hormonal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that analyzing ERalpha-positive breast tumors for GATA-3 using immunohistochemistry might improve prediction of hormone responsiveness. The association between GATA-3 expression and hormone response suggests that GATA-3 may play a role in mechanisms controlling response to estrogen.
Authors: Jie Qing Chen; Jennifer Litton; Li Xiao; Hua-Zhong Zhang; Carla L Warneke; Yun Wu; Xiaoyun Shen; Sheng Wu; Aysegul Sahin; Ruth Katz; Melissa Bondy; Gabriel Hortobagyi; Neil L Berinstein; James L Murray; Laszlo Radvanyi Journal: Horm Cancer Date: 2010-02-13 Impact factor: 3.869
Authors: Ashley Cimino-Mathews; Andrea P Subhawong; Peter B Illei; Rajni Sharma; Marc K Halushka; Russell Vang; John H Fetting; Ben Ho Park; Pedram Argani Journal: Hum Pathol Date: 2013-01-31 Impact factor: 3.466
Authors: Sharon E Johnatty; Fergus J Couch; Zachary Fredericksen; Robert Tarrell; Amanda B Spurdle; Jonathan Beesley; Xiaoqing Chen; Daphne Gschwantler-Kaulich; Christian F Singer; Christine Fuerhauser; Anneliese Fink-Retter; Susan M Domchek; Katherine L Nathanson; Vernon S Pankratz; Noralane M Lindor; Andrew K Godwin; Maria A Caligo; John Hopper; Melissa C Southey; Graham G Giles; Christina Justenhoven; Hiltrud Brauch; Ute Hamann; Yon-Dschun Ko; Tuomas Heikkinen; Kirsimari Aaltonen; Kristiina Aittomäki; Carl Blomqvist; Heli Nevanlinna; Per Hall; Kamila Czene; Jianjun Liu; Susan Peock; Margaret Cook; Radka Platte; D Gareth Evans; Fiona Lalloo; Rosalind Eeles; Gabriella Pichert; Diana Eccles; Rosemarie Davidson; Trevor Cole; Jackie Cook; Fiona Douglas; Carol Chu; Shirley Hodgson; Joan Paterson; Frans B L Hogervorst; Matti A Rookus; Caroline Seynaeve; Juul Wijnen; Maaike Vreeswijk; Marjolijn Ligtenberg; Rob B van der Luijt; Theo A M van Os; Hans J P Gille; Marinus J Blok; Claudine Issacs; Manjeet K Humphreys; Lesley McGuffog; Sue Healey; Olga Sinilnikova; Antonis C Antoniou; Douglas F Easton; Georgia Chenevix-Trench Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2008-12-11 Impact factor: 4.872