GATA-3

GATA-3 belongs to the GATA family of transcription factors (comprising six members: GATA-1 to GATA-6). It is expressed exclusively in the luminal epithelial cell population of the mammary gland, being absent from myoepithelial cells. GATA-3 is necessary for the specification and maintenance of luminal cells. Positive GATA-3 expression is among the best predictors of ER-positive status. Low GATA-3 protein expression is an independent predictor of tumour recurrence after treatment. GATA-3 expression was also strongly correlated with the luminal A subtype of mammary carcinomas1.

Immunohistochemical expression

Breast ductal carcinoma

59/91 (detail)1

Breast lobular carcinoma

24/241

Lung adenocarcinoma

0/1581

Lung squamous cell carcinoma

0/391

Diagnostic utility

Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma as metastatic from a breast primary

Differentiation of breast and pulmonary carcinoma

References

1 Yang M, Nonaka D. A study of immunohistochemical differential expression in pulmonary and mammary carcinomas. Mod Pathol. 2010 May;23(5):654-61.

This page last revised 10.5.2010.