GATA Antibody
Description
Definition and Mechanism of GATA Antibodies
GATA antibodies are monoclonal or polyclonal reagents that bind specifically to the GATA3 protein, enabling its visualization in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Key characteristics include:
Diagnostic and Prognostic Applications
GATA3 antibodies are pivotal in distinguishing tumor origins and predicting clinical outcomes.
Breast Cancer
GATA3 is a marker of luminal differentiation and is expressed in 70–80% of breast cancers. Key findings include:
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Prognostic Value: Low GATA3 expression correlates with aggressive features (high grade, HER2+ status, hormone receptor negativity) and reduced survival .
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Therapeutic Implications: Loss of GATA3 may predict resistance to taxanes and platinum salts in triple-positive breast cancers (TPBC) .
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Immune Microenvironment: High GATA3 expression in TPBC is associated with reduced immune cell infiltration and lower PD-L1 expression, potentially impacting immunotherapy responses .
Urothelial Carcinoma
GATA3 is highly sensitive for diagnosing urothelial origin:
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Sensitivity: Detected in 93.2% of cases, with strong staining in invasive/high-grade tumors .
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Clinical Correlation: Positivity correlates with symptoms (hematuria, dysuria) and occupational exposures (e.g., smoking) .
T-Cell Lymphomas
In T-cell lymphoproliferative neoplasms (e.g., cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, T-ALL), GATA3 overexpression is linked to chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis .
Table 1: Antibody Specificity and Cross-Reactivity
Table 3: GATA3 Expression in Major Tumor Types
Challenges and Limitations
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Antibody Specificity: Polyclonal antibodies may cross-react with other GATA proteins (e.g., GATA1-2, -4–6) .
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Staining Interpretation: Requires expertise to distinguish nuclear vs. cytoplasmic signals and quantify expression levels .
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Heterogeneity: GATA3 expression varies within tumors, necessitating careful sampling .
