Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39377168›Full record

ArticleCancer cytopathology2025

Single-cell multiplex immunocytochemistry in cell block preparations of metastatic breast cancer confirms sensitivity of GATA-binding protein 3 over gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 and mammaglobin.

Joshua J X Li, Hiu Yu Cheng, Conrad H C Lee, Joanna K M Ng, Julia Y Tsang, Gary M Tse

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer cytopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Joshua J X LiDepartment of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0003-2425-0314
Hiu Yu ChengDepartment of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Conrad H C LeeDepartment of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Joanna K M NgDepartment of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Julia Y TsangDepartment of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Gary M TseDepartment of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetastatic breast cancers are frequently encountered in cytology and require immunocytochemistry (ICC). In this study, traditional and multiplex ICC (mICC) for GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3), gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP15), and mammaglobin (MMG) were performed with the aim of validating mICC in cell blocks, with further single-cell expression pattern analysis to identify the single markers and combinations of markers most sensitive in subtypes of breast cancer.

methodsGATA3, GCDFP15, and MMG were paired with OptiView 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and Ventana DISCOVERY Purple and Blue, respectively, with cyclical and serial staining. Bright-field imaging was performed with the Mantra 2 system and analyzed with the inForm Tissue Finder (Akoya Biosciences). Cell detection and phenotyping were further confirmed by two pathologists.

resultsIn the 36 cases studied, traditional ICC and mICC demonstrated good concordance (kappa coefficient, >0.5; p < .01) at three cutoffs (1%, 5%, and 50%), except for GATA3 at the 1% cutoff. Single-marker positivity outnumbered double-marker positivity and the exceedingly rare triple-marker positivity (<3%). GATA3 was the leading single marker-positive phenotype in all breast cancer subtypes, except for MMG in estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (ER+/PR+/HER2+) breast cancers. Limited to two markers, GATA3/MMG included the greatest number of tumor cells for luminal breast cancers (ER+/PR+/HER2+, 60.6%; ER+/PR+/HER2+, 31.4%), whereas HER2-overexpressed breast cancers (27.4%) and triple-negative breast cancers (26.4%) favored the combination of GATA3/GCDFP15.

conclusionsFor a single marker, GATA3 displayed the highest sensitivity. The addition of MMG for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers and GCDFP15 for hormone receptor-negative breast cancers further increased sensitivity. The low proportion of multimarker-positive cells suggested that the coexpression observed with traditional ICC is attributable to intratumoral heterogeneity, not genuine coexpression.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorBreast NeoplasmsCarrier ProteinsGATA3 Transcription FactorGlycoproteinsImmunohistochemistryMammaglobin AMembrane Transport ProteinsFemaleHumansSensitivity and SpecificitySingle-Cell AnalysisUteroglobinBiomarkers, TumorCarrier ProteinsGATA3 protein, humanGATA3 Transcription FactorGlycoproteinsMammaglobin AMembrane Transport ProteinsPIP protein, humanUteroglobinbreast cancercell blockimmunocytochemistrymultiplex

Identifiers

PMID39377168
PMCPMC11695691

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.