Coexpression of androgen receptor and FOXA1 in nonmetastatic triple-negative breast cancer: ancillary study from PACS08 trial.

Abstract

AIM:

Microarray studies identified a subgroup of molecular apocrine tumors (estrogen receptor [ER] negative/androgen receptor [AR] positive) that express luminal genes including FOXA1. FOXA1 may direct AR to sites normally occupied by ER in luminal tumors, inducing an estrogen-like gene program that stimulated proliferation.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

Expression of AR and FOXA1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 592 patients with nonmetastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

RESULTS:

Coexpression of AR and FOXA1 was found in 15.2% of patients. These tumors were more frequently lobular, found in older patients and exhibited a lower nuclear grade and a greater degree of node involvement. They less often exhibited lymphocytic infiltrate, pushing margins, syncytial architecture, central fibrosis or necrosis.

CONCLUSION:

TNBC with coexpression of AR and FOXA1 seems to behave like luminal tumors with a morphological profile distinct from other TNBC. These biomarkers could be useful to identify a subgroup of TNBC and could have future therapeutic implications.

• Authors: Séverine Guiu, Céline Charon-Barra, Déwi Vernerey, Pierre Fumoleau, Mario Campone, Marc Spielmann, Henri Roché, Christel Mesleard, Laurent Arnould, Jérôme Lemonnier, Magali Lacroix-Triki
• Journal: Future oncology (London, England) (Future Oncol) Vol. 11 Issue 16 Pg. 2283-97 ( 2015) ISSN: 1744-8301 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26260807 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• AR protein, human
• FOXA1 protein, human
• Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha
• Receptors, Androgen

Topics

• Adult
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gene Expression
• Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Grading
• Neoplasm Staging
• Odds Ratio
• Receptors, Androgen (genetics, metabolism)
• Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Tumor Burden