GATA3 in development and cancer differentiation: cells GATA have it!

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that the numerous mechanisms that regulate cell differentiation during normal development are also involved in tumorigenesis. In breast cancer, differentiation markers expressed by the primary tumor are routinely profiled to guide clinical decisions. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that the differentiation profile correlates with the metastatic potential of tumors. The transcription factor GATA3 has emerged recently as a strong predictor of clinical outcome in human luminal breast cancer. In the mammary gland, GATA3 is required for luminal epithelial cell differentiation and commitment, and its expression is progressively lost during luminal breast cancer progression as cancer cells acquire a stem cell-like phenotype. Importantly, expression of GATA3 in GATA3-negative, undifferentiated breast carcinoma cells is sufficient to induce tumor differentiation and inhibits tumor dissemination in a mouse model. These findings demonstrate the exquisite ability of a differentiation factor to affect malignant properties, and raise the possibility that GATA3 or its downstream genes could be used in treating luminal breast cancer. This review highlights our recent understanding of GATA3 in both normal mammary development and tumor differentiation.

• Authors: Jonathan Chou, Sylvain Provot, Zena Werb
• Journal: Journal of cellular physiology (J Cell Physiol) Vol. 222 Issue 1 Pg. 42-9 (Jan 2010) ISSN: 1097-4652 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19798694 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• GATA3 Transcription Factor

Topics

• Animals
• Breast Neoplasms (pathology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Embryonic Development
• Female
• GATA3 Transcription Factor (metabolism)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Metastasis (pathology)
• Organ Specificity