The Relationship between the Expression of GATA4 and GATA6 with the Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

GATA4 and GATA6 are transcription factors involved in the differentiation and development of PDAC. GATA6 expression is related to the classic molecular subtype, while its absence is related to the basal-like molecular subtype. The aim was to determine the clinical utility of IHC determination of GATA4 and GATA6 in a series of patients with resected PDAC. GATA4 and GATA6 expression was studied by IHC in TMA samples of normal tissue, PanIN, tumor tissue and lymph node metastases from a series of 89 patients with resected PDAC. Its relationship with clinicopathologic variables and the outcome was investigated. Seventy-two (81%) tumors were GATA6+ and 37 (42%) were GATA4+. While GATA4 expression was reduced during tumor progression, GATA6 expression remained highly conserved, except in lymph node metastases. All patients with early stages and well-differentiated tumors were GATA6+. The absence of GATA4 expression was related to smoking. Patients with GATA4+ or GATA6+ tumors had significantly lower Ca 19.9 levels. The expression of GATA4 and GATA6 was related to DFS, being more favorable in the GATA4+/GATA6+ group. The determination of the expression of GATA4 and GATA6 by IHC is feasible and provides complementary clinical and prognostic information that can help improve the stratification of patients with PDAC.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the clinical utility of GATA4 and GATA6 expression determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. The results showed that the expression of GATA4 and GATA6 was related to clinicopathologic variables and prognosis. GATA6 expression was associated with the classic molecular subtype, while its absence was related to the basal-like molecular subtype. The determination of GATA4 and GATA6 expression by IHC is feasible and can provide complementary clinical and prognostic information to improve the stratification of PDAC patients.