GATA3 Predicts the Tumor Microenvironment Phenotypes and Molecular Subtypes for Bladder Carcinoma

Senescence-specific molecular subtypes stratify the hallmarks of the tumor microenvironment and guide precision medicine in bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is notably associated with advanced age, characterized by its high incidence and mortality among the elderly. Despite promising advancements in models that amalgamate molecular subtypes with treatment and prognostic outcomes, the considerable heterogeneity in BLCA poses challenges to their universal applicability. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a new molecular subtyping system focusing on a critical clinical feature of BLCA: senescence.

METHODS

Utilizing unsupervised clustering on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA)-BLCA cohort, we crafted a senescence-associated molecular classification and precision quantification system (Senescore). This method underwent systematic validation against established molecular subtypes, treatment strategies, clinical outcomes, the immune tumor microenvironment (TME), relevance to immune checkpoints, and identification of potential therapeutic targets.

RESULTS

External validations were conducted using the Xiangya cohort, IMvigor210 cohort, and meta-cohort, with multiplex immunofluorescence confirming the correlation between Senescore, immune infiltration, and cellular senescence. Notably, patients categorized within higher Senescore group were predisposed to the basal subtype, showcased augmented immune infiltration, harbored elevated driver gene mutations, and exhibited increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors expression in the transcriptome. Despite poorer prognoses, these patients revealed greater responsiveness to immunotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our molecular subtyping and Senescore, informed by age-related clinical features, accurately depict age-associated biological traits and its clinical application potential in BLCA. Moreover, this personalized assessment framework is poised to identify senolysis targets unique to BLCA, furthering the integration of aging research into therapeutic strategies.

Unveiling GATA3 Signaling Pathways in Health and Disease: Mechanisms, Implications, and Therapeutic Potential

GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), a member of the GATA family transcription factors, is a key player in various physiological and pathological conditions. It is known for its ability to bind to the DNA sequence "GATA", which enables its key role in critical processes in multiple tissues and organs including the immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system. GATA3 also modulates cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis via controlling gene expression. In physiological instances, GATA3 is crucial for maintaining immunological homeostasis by mediating the development of naïve T cells into T helper 2 (Th2). In addition, GATA3 has been demonstrated to play a variety of cellular roles in the growth and maintenance of mammary gland, neuronal, and renal tissues. Conversely, the presence of impaired GATA3 is associated with a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Additionally, the altered expression of GATA3 contributes to the worsening of disease progression in hematological malignancies, such as T-cell lymphomas. Therefore, this review explores the multifaceted roles and signaling pathways of GATA3 in health and disease, with a particular emphasis on its potential as a therapeutic and prognostic target for the effective management of diseases.

Identification of Molecular Subgroups of Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Bladder Cancer and Their Impact on Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) improves muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) survival. However, its efficacy is limited to a group of patients. This study explored CK5/6 and GATA3 for molecular subtyping and their prediction to response in patients with MIBC.

METHODS

This is a prospective study that includes 50 patients with TCC bladder. All Patients received 4 cycles neoadjuvant gemcitabine/ cisplatin then guided to further treatment according to the response to NACT. Responders (CR & PR) went for CCRTH whereas non-responders (SD & PD) went surgery if resectable or second line chemotherapy if non-resectable. The baseline TUR pathology specimens were examined for histopathological feature and CK5/6 and GATA3 and divided into 4 molecular subgroups.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into four molecular subgroups: luminal (n=12/26.7%), basal (n=8/17.8%), double-positive (n=21/26.7%), and double-negative (n=4/8.9%). There was no clinicopathological difference seen among the 4 molecular subgroups. The PFS was higher in patients with GATA3 positive (24 months) than GATA3 negative (17 months). Yet, it did not reach a statistically significant value (P = 0.1605). On the other hand, PFS was not affected by either CK5/6 status or different molecular subgroups. The OS was better in the luminal subgroup than the basal (20.8 months versus 16.16 months respectively, While the double positive showed the highest OS of 26 months(P=0.0352).

CONCLUSION

GATA3 and CK5/6 IHC can classify MIBCs into four subtypes. These subtypes predicted treatment outcomes, however, were not correlated with the response to NACT. GATA3-positive tumors, luminal and double-positive subtypes tend to have higher OS and PFS. CK5/6 positivity did not impact the treatment outcome.

Relationship between tumor thickness and GATA3 immunoexpression in lip and tongue squamous cell carcinomas

PURPOSE

Lower lip squamous cell carcinomas (LLSCCs) exhibit lower levels of aggressiveness, low relations with metastases and better prognosis when compared with intraoral squamous cell carcinomas. Differently from the oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCCs) have a high tendency towards local invasion and lymph nodal dissemination. Our aim was to evaluate tumor thickness in cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and correlate it with histological grade of malignancy and GATA3 immunoreactivity.

METHODS

Sixty specimens (30 LLSCCs and 30 OTSCCs) were scanned and digitized for the subsequent measurement of tumor thickness, histopathological examination, and quantitative analysis of GATA3 in the parenchyma and stroma of the tumors.

RESULTS

Tumor thickness was lower in LLSCC compared to OTSCCs. Immunohistochemical analysis of GATA3 in parenchyma, stroma and both compartments showed higher immunoreactivity in LLSCCs compared to OTSCCs. We observed a negative correlation between tumor thickness and GATA3 expression in parenchyma, stroma, and both compartments. Our results revealed the presence of GATA3 in all cases both in the parenchyma and in the stroma. Higher expression was more related to LLSCCs, which are known to be less aggressive tumors than OTSCCs.

CONCLUSIONS

A greater tumor thickness was found in OTSCCs, which was correlated with lower expression of GATA3, suggesting that this protein is involved in the inhibition of proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacity.

Association of GATA3 expression in triple-positive breast cancer with overall survival and immune cell infiltration

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with triple-positive breast cancer (TPBC) being a particularly aggressive subtype. GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) plays a crucial role in the luminal differentiation of breast epithelium and T-cell differentiation. However, the relationship between GATA3 and immune infiltration in TPBC remains unclear. This study collected and analyzed TPBC data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), METABRIC, and GSE123845 databases. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, along with Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, were employed to assess the prognostic value of GATA3 and other clinical features. Subsequently, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to explore the potential biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of GATA3 in TPBC. Additionally, ssGSEA analysis revealed the connection between GATA3 and immune infiltration. And the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy on GATA3 expression were also explored. Finally, clinical samples were used to detect the relationship between GATA3 expression and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels. Our results demonstrated that GATA3 was significantly overexpressed in TPBC tissues compared to normal tissues (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between GATA3 mRNA and protein levels was observed (R = 0.55, P < 0.05). Notably, high GATA3 expression was associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-11.76, P < 0.05). GSEA indicated significant enrichment of immune-related gene sets in low GATA3 expression groups. Furthermore, pathologic complete response (pCR) patients exhibited significantly lower GATA3 expression compared to residual disease (RD) patients. Mutation analysis revealed higher PIK3CA and TP53 mutation rates in high GATA3 expression groups. Finally, clinical validation data showed that the degree of TILs was significantly higher in the low GATA3 expression group. In conclusion, this study suggests that high GATA3 expression may be associated with poor prognosis and may reduce immune infiltration in TPBC.

GATA3 Positively Correlates with BCL2 Expression in Indolent and Aggressive Histological Types of Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Some histological basal cell carcinoma (BCC) types demonstrate more aggressive behavior than others. They are known as high-risk BCC and are more challenging in therapy, contrary to indolent (low-risk) BCC types. Identifying novel protein markers to predict aggressiveness and potential therapeutic targets in challenging cases is recommended. GATA3 is a transcription factor critical for epithelial and lymphocytic differentiation. This study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of GATA3 in indolent and aggressive BCC and its association with BCL2 expression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospectively collected indolent and aggressive BCC groups (24 cases each) were immunohistochemically stained with anti-GATA3 and BCL2 antibodies. The mean expression score (by area percentage) and TIL counts were determined and compared using ImageJ analysis. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were counted per high-power field (HPF) on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.

RESULTS

GATA3 and BCL2 expressions were significantly higher in the indolent group than in the aggressive group. GATA3 expression significantly correlated with BCL2 score and TIL counts. Higher GATA3 expression was significantly associated with a more indolent BCC histological type, higher BCL2 expression, and higher TIL count.

CONCLUSION

GATA3 is a possible target for immunomodulation experiments to improve BCC immunotherapy outcomes.

Gene of the month: GATA3

GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) is a zinc-finger pioneer transcription factor involved in diverse processes. GATA3 regulates gene expression through binding nucleosomal DNA and facilitating chromatin remodelling. Post-translational modifications modulate its activity. During development, GATA3 plays a key role in cell differentiation. Mutations in GATA3 are linked to breast and bladder cancer. GATA3 expression is a feature of the luminal subtype of bladder cancer and has implications for immune status and therapeutic response. It also has clinical relevance in squamous cell carcinomas and soft tissue sarcomas. This paper reviews the structure and function of GATA3, its role in cancer and its use and pitfalls as an immunohistochemical marker.