title: FOXP3 transcription factor: a candidate marker for susceptibility and prognosis in triple negative breast cancer.
abstract: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a relevant subgroup of neoplasia which presents negative phenotype of estrogen and progesterone receptors and has no overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2). FOXP3 (forkhead transcription factor 3) is a marker of regulatory T cells (Tregs), whose expression may be increased in tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate a polymorphism (rs3761548) and the protein expression of FOXP3 for a possible involvement in TNBC susceptibility and prognosis. Genetic polymorphism was evaluated in 50 patients and in 115 controls by allele-specific PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Protein expression was evaluated in 38 patients by immunohistochemistry. It was observed a positive association for homozygous AA (OR = 3.78; 95% CI = 1.02-14.06) in relation to TNBC susceptibility. Most of the patients (83%) showed a strong staining for FOXP3 protein in the tumor cells. In relation to FOXP3-positive infiltrate, 47% and 58% of patients had a moderate or intense intratumoral and peritumoral mononuclear infiltrate cells, respectively. Tumor size was positively correlated to intratumoral FOXP3-positive infiltrate (P = 0.026). In conclusion, since FOXP3 was positively associated with TNBC susceptibility and prognosis, it seems to be a promising candidate for further investigation in larger TNBC samples.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandra Fiori
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Losi
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guembarovski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alda Losi
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Guembarovski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina Okuyama
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kishima
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Clinic, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clodoaldo Zago
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julie Massayo Maeda
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Batista
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karen Brajão
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Health Sciences, Maringá State University, 87020-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sueli Donizete
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Science Center, State University of Londrina, 86057-970 Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Angelica Ehara
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors