title: GATA-3 expression is not associated with complete pathological response in triple negative breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is poor, however, a subset will demonstrate complete pathological response (pCR) to chemotherapy. GATA-3 and AR may be a negative predictors for pCR although it is unclear if these results apply to TNBC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with TNBC and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were identified. Immunohistochemistry was performed for GATA-3 and AR. Both were scored using a composite of staining intensity and percentage cells stained. The primary outcome was pCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients were included and 7 achieved pCR. There was no difference in the pre-chemotherapy tumor size (44±28mm vs. 54±30mm; p=0.764) or lymph node status (86% vs. 71%; p=0.629) between patients with and without pCR. GATA-3 expression was present in 20 cases (83%) while AR was present in 6 cases (25%). No AR expression was seen in 15 cases (63%) with GATA-3 positivity. There was no difference in either GATA-3 (4.3±2.7 vs. 3.6±2.5; p=0.549) or AR (1.4±2.5 vs. 1.1±2.4; p=0.778) expression between patients with and without pCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GATA-3 expression is frequent in TNBC even in the absence of AR. However, neither GATA-3 nor AR are associated with pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jason K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shahidul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: sjrobertson@toh.on.ca.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D011944:Receptors, Androgen
keywords: Androgen receptor; Breast carcinoma; GATA-3; Hormone receptors; Locally advanced; Neoadjuvant