FOXP1 negatively regulates tumor infiltrating lymphocyte migration in human breast cancerResearch in context

Background: FOXP1, a transcriptional regulator of lymphocyte development, is abnormally expressed in some human tumors. This study investigated FOXP1-mediated regulation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in untreated primary breast cancer (BC). Methods: FOXP1 expression was analyzed in tissues from primary untreated breast tumors, BC cell lines and the METABRIC gene expression BC dataset. Cytokine and chemokine expression and lymphocyte migration in response to primary tumor supernatants (SN) was compared between FOXP1hi and FOXP1lo primary BC. Finding: FOXP1 expression was higher in estrogen receptor positive compared to negative BC. FOXP1hi tumors were significantly associated with lower TIL and fewer tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) compared to FOXP1lo BC. Silencing FOXP1 in BC cell lines positively impacted cytokine and chemokine expression with the inverse effect associated with overexpression. CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL13, CX3CL, CCL20, IL2, IL21, GZMB and IFNG expression decreased while IL10 and TGFβ increased in FOXP1hi compared to FOXP1lo primary BC. Lymphocyte migration using primary BC supernatants detected decreased mobility toward FOXP1hi supernatants. FOXP1lo BC expresses higher levels of chemokines driving TIL migration. The METABRIC gene expression dataset analysis show FOXP1 expression is associated with unfavorable BC outcomes. Interpretation: These data identify FOXP1 as an important negative regulator of immune responses in BC via its regulation of cytokine and chemokine expression. Fund: Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS 3.4513.12F) and Opération Télévie (7.4636.13F and 7.4609.15F), Fonds J.C. Heuson and Fonds Lambeau-Marteaux. Keywords: FOXP1, Breast cancer, Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, Chemokines, Cytokine