Diagnostic and prognostic significance of FOXA1 expression in molecular subtypes of breast invasive ductal carcinomas

Abstract

To investigate the expression of FOXA1 in breast invasive ductal carcinomas, observe its expression in all molecular subtypes of breast invasive ductal carcinomas and understand its diagnostic and prognostic significance. Tissue specimens were obtained from 213 cases of breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and their expressions of FOXA1 and Ki67 detected by immunohistochemistry. And the expressions of CK5/6 and CK14 were detected to distinguish between normal breast-like subtype and basal-like subtype. The expression of FOXA1 was observed in 150 cases (70.4%). It correlated positively with ER and PR. But there was a negative correlation with histological grade, Nottingham prognostic index, p53 and Ki67. The expression of FOXA1 had difference between luminal and non-luminal subtypes. In luminal subtype, the expression of FOXA1 was associated with histological grade, PR, NPI, Ki67 and A subtype. In terms of prognosis, the expression of FOXA1 predicted a long disease-free survival and overall survival. The expression of FOXA1 is associated with a good prognosis. FOXA1 is a promising candidate for clinical identification of luminal A subtype. Prognostic analysis of FOXA1 in low-risk breast cancers may prove to be useful in clinical treatment decision-making.