FOXA1 expression in Iraqi women with ER+ breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease that can be classified into many subtypes according to histopathological and molecular characteristics. Forkhead box protein A1 (FOXA1) is a transcriptional pioneer factor that opens chromatin allowing estrogen receptor (α-ER) access to its genomic targets. FOXA1 expression is related to luminal BC with a good prognosis. Objectives: The present study is sought to determine the FOXA1 expression in Iraqi women with ER+ BC. Methods: Forty-eight fresh malignant breast tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay to choose ER+ samples, and then by RT-qPCR to evaluate FOXA1 gene expression. Results: The ER-positive samples were (72.91%) of the total samples, and the molecular subtype of luminal A was the most common with a percentage of 56.25%. It was also noted that the high expression of the FOXA1 gene is highly significant (p<0.05) in Iraqi women with BC when compared with healthy controls. Conclusions: Highly significant FOXA1 expression was found in Iraqi women with BC makes it eligible to be a good predictor or a biomarker for BC.