Expression of GATA-6 transcription factor in pleural malignant mesothelioma and metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma
- Pamela M Lindholm (pamela.lindholm{at}helsinki.fi)
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
- Ylermi Soini (ylermi.soini{at}uku.fi)
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Kuopio University and Oulu Central Universit, Finland
- Marjukka Myllarniemi (marjukka.myllarniemi{at}helsinki.fi)
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
- Sakari Knuutila (sakari.knuutila{at}helsinki.fi)
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki Universi, Finland
- Markku Heikinheimo (markku.heikinheimo{at}helsinki.fi)
- Vuokko L Kinnula (vuokko.kinnula{at}helsinki.fi)
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
- Kaisa Salmenkivi (kaisa.salmenkivi{at}helsinki.fi)
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute and HUSLAB, University of Helsinki and Helsinki Universi, Finland
- Published Online First 5 December 2008
Abstract
Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive tumor with poor prognosis and limited response to therapy. New markers for the prediction of prognosis in MM and in pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the pleura are valuable. GATA-6 belongs to a six member zinc finger transcription factor family named after their recognition motif W-GATA-R.
Methods: Sixty-three pleural MM and 36 pleural metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinomas were studied for GATA-6 expression by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray. Expression of GATA-6 was examined in relation to TTF-1 expression, survival, proliferation and apoptosis.
Results: Nuclear immunoreactivity for GATA-6 was stronger and more frequent in the MM cases than in the metastatic pleural adenocarcinoma. Prognosis was better in patients with GATA-6 expression when compared to those with no GATA-6 expression (p = 0.002), in the subgroup analysis the difference being significant in the epithelial and sarcomatous mesothelioma. GATA-6 was not associated with spontaneous proliferation or apoptosis of the tumor cells in situ.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that GATA-6 plays a role in pleural malignancies, predicting longer survival in subgroups of MM.
