Abstract P5-13-05: The relationship between the expression of FOXA1 and GATA3 and the efficacy of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy
Authors: Tanaka K , Tokunaga E , Inoue Y , Ueo H , Yamashita N , Sagara Y , Ohi Y , Taguchi K , Ohno S , Okano S , Kitao H , Oki E , Oda Y , Maehara Y 
Published: May 2016

Background.

The estrogen receptor (ER)/ GATA3/ Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) network is necessary for the ERα functional signature specific to luminal type breast cancers. High expression of FOXA1 indicates a good prognosis in ER-positive breast cancer. However, little is known about the association between the expression of FOXA1 and GATA3, and the efficacy of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NAE). This study investigated their predictive potential for NAE and the changes of their expression after NAE.

Methods.

The expression of ER, progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki67, FOXA1, and GATA3 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 66 patients with hormone receptor-positive/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer who had been treated with NAE between March 2003 and December 2012 at Kyushu University Hospital, National Kyushu Cancer Center, and Sagara Hospital. The association between the expression of biological marker and the efficacy of NAE, and their expression changes after NAE were evaluated.

Results.

The median age of the patients was 60 years (range, 30–84 years). Pre- and post-menopausal patients were 24 (36.4%) and 42 (63.6%). Endocrine agents that were administered are as follows: aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for 42 patients (63.6%), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist plus AI for 10 patients (15.2%), LHRH agonist plus tamoxifen for 13 patients (19.7%). NAE yielded a partial response (PR) in 21 patients (31.8%) and stable disease (SD) in 45 patients (68.2%). Breast conserving surgery was performed in 56 patients (84.8%) and mastectomy was performed in 10 patients (15.2%). Preoperative Endocrine Prognostic Index (PEPI) score was 0 in 10 patients (15.2%) and 1 or greater (score 1 ≤) in 56 patients (84.8%).

Pre-treatment FOXA1 expression was positively correlated with GATA3 (P = 0.0003) and PgR (P = 0.0138). Post-treatment Ki67 expression was significantly lower in tumors, which achieved PR compared with those with SD (P = 0.0007). The expression of PgR, Ki67, and FOXA1 was significantly lower in post-treatment tumors compared with those in pre-treatment samples (p &lt; 0.0001, p &lt; 0.0001 and p &lt; 0.0001, respectively). The expression of PgR, Ki67, and FOXA1 was significantly reduced in both tumors with PR and those with SD (PR: P = 0.0004, P &lt; 0.0001, and P = 0.0417, respectively; SD: P &lt; 0.0001, P = 0.0001, and P &lt; 0.0001, respectively). The expression of PgR, Ki67, and FOXA1 was significantly decreased in post-treatment tumors in both patients with the PEPI score 0 and those with score 1 ≤ (score 0: P = 0.0078, P = 0.0059, and P = 0.0098, respectively; score 1 ≤: P &lt; 0.0001, P &lt; 0.0001, and P = 0.0002, respectively). In tumors with PgR &gt; 20%, the expression of Ki67 and FOXA1 were significantly lower in post-treatment tumors (P &lt; 0.0001 and P &lt; 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions.

FOXA1 expression correlated with PgR expression, and was reduced significantly after NAE. These results suggest that blocking the effect of estrogen might reduce FOXA1 expression.

Citation Format: Tanaka K, Tokunaga E, Inoue Y, Ueo H, Yamashita N, Sagara Y, Ohi Y, Taguchi K, Ohno S, Okano S, Kitao H, Oki E, Oda Y, Maehara Y. The relationship between the expression of FOXA1 and GATA3 and the efficacy of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-13-05.