Gata3

Abstract

GATA3 is a transcription factor important in the differentiation of breast epithelia, urothelia, and subsets of T-lymphocytes. It has been suggested useful in the evaluation of mammary or urothelial origin or metastatic carcinomas, but its distribution in normal and neoplastic tissues is incompletely mapped. In this study, we examined normal developing and adult tissues in 2040 epithelial and 460 mesenchymal or neuroectodermal neoplasms for GATA3 expression to explore its diagnostic value in surgical pathology, using monoclonal antibody (clone L50-823) and Leica Bond automated immunohistochemistry. GATA3 was expressed in trophoblast, fetal and adult epidermis, adult mammary and some salivary gland and sweat gland ductal epithelia, urothelia, distal nephron in developing and adult tissues, some prostatic basal cells, and subsets of T-lymphocytes. It was expressed stronger in fetal than adult mesothelia and was absent in respiratory and gastrointestinal epithelia. In epithelial neoplasms, GATA3 was expressed in >90% of primary and metastatic ductal and lobular carcinomas of the breast, urothelial, and cutaneous basal cell carcinomas, and trophoblastic and endodermal sinus tumors. In metastatic breast carcinomas, it was more sensitive than GCDFP. Among squamous cell carcinomas, the expression was highest in the skin (81%) and lower in cervical (33%), laryngeal (16%) and pulmonary tumors (12%). Common positivity was found in skin adnexal tumors (100%), mesothelioma (58%), salivary gland (43%) and pancreatic (37%) ductal carcinomas, whereas frequency of expression in adenocarcinomas of lung, stomach, colon, endometrium, ovary, and prostate was <10%. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma was a unique renal tumor with frequent positivity (51%), whereas oncocytomas were positive in 17% of cases but other types only rarely. Among mesenchymal and neuroectodermal tumors, paragangliomas were usually positive, which sets these tumors apart from epithelial neuroendocrine tumors. Mesenchymal tumors were only sporadically positive, except epithelia of biphasic synovial sarcomas. GATA3 is a useful marker in characterization not only mammary and urothelial but also for renal and germ cell tumors, mesotheliomas, and paragangliomas. The multiple specificities of GATA3 should be taken into account when using this marker to detect metastatic mammary or urothelial carcinomas.

Oncocytic variant of malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor: a potential diagnostic pitfall

“…Granular cell tumors are relatively common benign neoplasms composed of large, eosinophilic cells with abundant coarsely granular cytoplasm, which most often involve the superficial soft tissues but also frequently occur in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (11). Granular cell tumors are thought to show schwannian differentiation, and typically express S100 protein and SOX10 (11,12). Malignant granular cell tumors are exceedingly rare, and characterized by spindle cell morphology, prominent nucleoli, increased mitotic activity, geographic necrosis, marked pleomorphism, and increased nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio (11,13).…”

GATA-3 Expression in Trophoblastic Tissues

“…It is also a diagnostically useful immunohistochemical marker which is sensitive and relatively specific for bladder and breast non-neoplastic tissues and carcinomas. In urothelial carcinomas, expression has been observed in 67%-86% of cases 2–4 , and 48%-94% of breast carcinomas have been positive with a decrease noted with higher grade tumors. 2, 4, 5–8 However, expression has also been occasionally observed in a variety of other tumors, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant mesothelioma, benign Brenner tumor, paraganglioma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and various types of salivary gland tumors.…”

“…In urothelial carcinomas, expression has been observed in 67%-86% of cases 2–4 , and 48%-94% of breast carcinomas have been positive with a decrease noted with higher grade tumors. 2, 4, 5–8 However, expression has also been occasionally observed in a variety of other tumors, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, malignant mesothelioma, benign Brenner tumor, paraganglioma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and various types of salivary gland tumors. 1,4,9 Although a number of series evaluating this marker in a spectrum of different tumors have not assessed expression in non-neoplastic trophoblastic tissues and trophoblastic neoplasms, 1–2 one recent large study by Miettinen et al included a small number of trophoblastic tissues/tumors and demonstrated that they frequently express GATA-3 (with positivity noted in trophoblastic cells of a developing embryo, pure choriocarcinomas, choriocarcinomatous components of mixed germ cell tumors, a placental site trophoblastic tumor, and syncytiotrophoblastic cells in seminomas).…”

“…1,4,9 Although a number of series evaluating this marker in a spectrum of different tumors have not assessed expression in non-neoplastic trophoblastic tissues and trophoblastic neoplasms, 1–2 one recent large study by Miettinen et al included a small number of trophoblastic tissues/tumors and demonstrated that they frequently express GATA-3 (with positivity noted in trophoblastic cells of a developing embryo, pure choriocarcinomas, choriocarcinomatous components of mixed germ cell tumors, a placental site trophoblastic tumor, and syncytiotrophoblastic cells in seminomas). 4 Nonetheless, all data in the literature on GATA-3 expression in trophoblastic tissues/neoplasms are relatively limited.…”

Atypical Hidradenoma Mimicking Primary Mammary Carcinoma on Breast Fine-Needle Aspiration: A Case Report with Long-Term Follow-Up

“…Because breast and sweat gland tissues have common embryologic origins and functions, so-called breast markers like GATA3, GCDFP and mammaglobin are also frequently expressed in sweat gland tumors [34,35,36]. However, the vast majority of low-grade invasive and in situ ductal carcinomas are positive for ER and PR, which are only rarely positive in skin adnexal lesions [37].…”