Discovery of Epigenetically Silenced Tumour Suppressor Genes in Aggressive Breast Cancer Through a Computational Approach

Abstract

Breast cancer is characterized by genetic and epigenetic deregulations, leading to aberrant expression of tissue-specific genes that are normally silent in healthy breast tissue. Our previous work identified the embryonic stem cell-specific gene DNMT3B, a de novo DNA methyltransferase, as aberrantly activated in breast cancer, correlating with aggressive tumour behaviour and high relapse risk, regardless of molecular subtype. Through integrative bioinformatic analyses of DNA methylation and transcriptomic data, we identified 154 genes downregulated via DNMT3B-driven promoter hypermethylation, many of which are associated with high relapse risk. Notably, the tumour suppressor gene GATA3 emerged as a primary target of functional inactivation through either loss-of-function mutations or DNMT3B-controlled hypermethylation, in a mutually exclusive manner.

Both mechanisms of GATA3 inactivation were associated with similar molecular signatures linked to tumour progression, increased malignancy, and poorer prognosis. However, distinct differences were observed, with immune- and inflammation-related genes enriched in GATA3 hypermethylation cases but depleted in mutation-driven silencing. Additionally, our analysis uncovered other potential tumour suppressor genes epigenetically repressed in aggressive breast cancers. These findings underscore a broader role of GATA3 inactivation beyond genetic alterations and suggest therapeutic opportunities to target epigenetically silenced tumour suppressors in aggressive breast tumours.