Cited by 12,129Breast Cancer Treatment StudiesCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsBreast Lesions and Carcinomas

Comprehensive molecular portraits of human breast tumours

Open access
The Cancer Genome Atlas Network·2012·Nature

Abstract

We analysed primary breast cancers by genomic DNA copy number arrays, DNA methylation, exome sequencing, messenger RNA arrays, microRNA sequencing and reverse-phase protein arrays. Our ability to integrate information across platforms provided key insights into previously defined gene expression subtypes and demonstrated the existence of four main breast cancer classes when combining data from five platforms, each of which shows significant molecular heterogeneity. Somatic mutations in only three genes (TP53, PIK3CA and GATA3) occurred at >10% incidence across all breast cancers; however, there were numerous subtype-associated and novel gene mutations including the enrichment of specific mutations in GATA3, PIK3CA and MAP3K1 with the luminal A subtype. We identified two novel protein-expression-defined subgroups, possibly produced by stromal/microenvironmental elements, and integrated analyses identified specific signalling pathways dominant in each molecular subtype including a HER2/phosphorylated HER2/EGFR/phosphorylated EGFR signature within the HER2-enriched expression subtype. Comparison of basal-like breast tumours with high-grade serous ovarian tumours showed many molecular commonalities, indicating a related aetiology and similar therapeutic opportunities. The biological finding of the four main breast cancer subtypes caused by different subsets of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities raises the hypothesis that much of the clinically observable plasticity and heterogeneity occurs within, and not across, these major biological subtypes of breast cancer. The Cancer Genome Atlas Network describe their multifaceted analyses of primary breast cancers, shedding light on breast cancer heterogeneity; although only three genes (TP53, PIK3CA and GATA3) are mutated at a frequency greater than 10% across all breast cancers, numerous subtype-associated and novel mutations were identified. This Article from the Cancer Genome Atlas consortium describes a multifaceted analysis of primary breast cancers in 825 people. Exome sequencing, copy number variation, DNA methylation, messenger RNA arrays, microRNA sequencing and proteomic analyses were performed and integrated to shed light on breast-cancer heterogeneity. Just three genes — TP53, PIK3CA and GATA3 — are mutated at greater than 10% frequency across all breast cancers. Many subtype-associated and novel mutations were identified, as well as two breast-cancer subgroups with specific signalling-pathway signatures. The analyses also suggest that much of the clinically observable plasticity and heterogeneity occurs within, and not across, the major subtypes of breast cancer.

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Authors
The Cancer Genome Atlas Network
Corresponding author
The Cancer Genome Atlas Network
Venue
Nature
Published
2012-09-23
Volume
490
Issue
7418
Pages
61-70
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W4301159569
Cited by
12,129
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 552 · 2025: 690 · 2024: 761 · 2023: 781 · 2022: 918 · 2021: 1164 · 2020: 1005 · 2019: 961 · 2018: 942 · 2017: 949 · 2016: 979 · 2015: 909 · 2014: 879 · 2013: 590 · 2012: 40
FWCI
256.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Breast Cancer Research Foundation (P50CA116201)
  • Henry M. Jackson Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (U54HG003067, U54HG003079, U54HG004028)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA094143, U24CA143882, U01CA084955, U24CA143840, U24CA143858, U24CA144025, K08CA148912, U24CA143866, U24CA143883, U24CA143845, U24CA143867, U24CA143848, U24CA143799, U24CA143835, P50 CA 58223, P30CA016672, P30CA016058, P50CA058223, P50CA116201, P30CA016086)
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine (R01LM009722)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Breast Lesions and Carcinomas
Keywords
breast cancer, molecular subtypes, tumor heterogeneity, somatic mutations, TP53, PIK3CA, GATA3, MAP3K1, luminal A, HER2-enriched breast cancer, basal-like breast cancer, high-grade serous ovarian cancer, DNA methylation, copy number variation, gene expression signatures, signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment, multi-omics integration
MeSH terms
Breast Neoplasms, DNA Mutational Analysis, Female, Humans, Mutation, Ovarian Neoplasms, Receptors, Estrogen, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Neoplasm, Genome, Human, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Genes, p53, Retinoblastoma Protein, Genes, erbB-2, Genetic Heterogeneity, DNA Methylation, Genes, BRCA1, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Gene Expression Profiling, Genomics, MicroRNAs, Protein Array Analysis, Proteomics, MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1, GATA3 Transcription Factor, Genes, Neoplasm, DNA Copy Number Variations, Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Exome

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