GATA3 expression in tumor-infiltrating mononuclear inflammatory cells is associated with poor prognostic factors in tubo-ovarian carcinomas.

The study investigated the expression of GATA3, a transcription factor involved in immune regulation, in tubo-ovarian carcinomas and its association with clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 91 tubo-ovarian carcinoma samples to determine the presence of GATA3-positive inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment. A threshold of 10% or higher was considered a positive expression. The results showed that 46.7% of tubo-ovarian carcinomas exhibited positive expression of GATA3 in inflammatory cells. There was no significant difference in GATA3 expression between patients who received pre-surgical chemotherapy and those who underwent primary surgery. However, high-grade serous carcinomas had a significantly higher proportion of GATA3-positive inflammatory cells compared to other subtypes. Advanced-stage tumors (stage III) had a higher percentage of GATA3-positive inflammatory cells compared to stage II and I tumors. Patients with positive GATA3 expression had a significantly lower disease-free survival rate. However, there was no significant association between GATA3 expression and chemotherapy response score. These findings suggest that increased expression of GATA3 in mononuclear inflammatory cells is associated with higher grade, advanced stage, and increased risk of recurrence in tubo-ovarian carcinoma. This implies that heightened GATA3 expression negatively impacts anti-tumor immunity, tumor growth progression, and invasiveness in tubo-ovarian carcinomas.
(© 2024 Japanese Society of Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)