乳腺癌和癌旁乳腺组织中Notch1基因mRNA及蛋白的表达

目的 检测Notch1基因mRNA及Notch1蛋白在人乳腺癌和癌旁乳腺组织中的表达,分析其临床病理学意义.方法 应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法榆测60例乳腺浸润性导管癌和60例癌旁乳腺组织中Notch1基因mRNA,应用免疫组织化学SP法检测60例乳腺浸润性导管癌、30例导管原位癌及60例癌旁乳腺组织Notch1蛋白的表达,分析Notch1表达水平与乳腺癌临床病理特征的相关性.结果 Notch1基因mRNA在人乳腺浸润性导管癌及癌旁乳腺组织中均有表达.Notch1蛋白在癌旁乳腺组织和导管原位癌中的阳性牢分别为55%(33/60)、70%(21/30),二者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的阳性率为90%(54/60),明显高于癌旁乳腺组织和导管原位癌的阳性率(P<0.05).乳腺浸润性导管癌Notch1蛋白的高表达与肿瘤的淋巴结转移(P=0.006)、病理学分级(P=0.001)和TNM分期(P=0.022)均呈显著正相关.结论 乳腺浸润性导管癌存在Notch1蛋白的高表达.Notch1蛋白高表达与乳腺癌的恶变演进有关.Notch1基因的表达可能影响乳腺癌的发生、发展.     

Yes相关蛋白1在乳腺癌中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨yes相关蛋白1(YAP1)在正常乳腺组织及乳腺癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法采用免疫组织化学Envision法检测133例乳腺浸润性导管癌,37例乳腺导管原位癌及47例癌旁组织中YAP1的表达。结果 (1)YAP1在乳腺癌旁组织中的阳性率(81%)明显高于乳腺癌组织中的阳性率(46%)(P0.05);(2)YAP1在乳腺导管原位癌中的阳性率为43%,与乳腺浸润性导管癌之间的差异无统计学意义(P=0.925);(3)YAP1阳性表达与患者年龄、肿瘤大小及淋巴结转移转移无关,而与乳腺癌的分子分型有关(P0.05)。结论在乳腺癌中YAP1可能作为抑癌基因发挥作用,YAP1的表达对乳腺癌的治疗有一定意义。     

膜联蛋白A2在乳腺癌及乳腺纤维腺瘤中的表达及意义

目的 研究膜联蛋白A2 (Annexin Ⅱ,ANX A2)在乳腺浸润性导管癌和乳腺纤维腺瘤中表达,以探讨其在乳腺癌发生发展中的作用.方法 分别使用免疫组织化学染色(SP)法和逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法检测乳腺浸润性导管癌和乳腺纤维腺瘤中ANX A2的蛋白表达水平和mRNA表达水平,并分析其在不同病理分级、临床分期及有无淋巴结转移的乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达情况.结果 免疫组化结果显示乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中ANX A2表达高于乳腺纤维腺瘤(P＜0.05),RT-PCR结果也显示乳腺浸润性导管癌中ANX A2 mRNA的表达高于乳腺纤维腺瘤(P＜0.05).乳腺癌中ANX A2的表达与年龄、病理分级、临床分期和淋巴结转移呈正相关.结论 乳腺浸润性导管癌中annexinA2表达明显高于乳腺纤维腺瘤,annexinA2可能是乳腺癌的生物学标记物之一,其在乳腺癌的发生发展中可能扮演重要的角色.     

B7H4在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及其预后意义

为探讨B7H4蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达特点及其与临床病理因素和预后的关系,应用免疫组织化学EnVision法检测B7H4蛋白在123例患者癌组织和30例正常乳腺组织中的表达,分析其阳性表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者临床病理学特征及患者生存率的关系。结果显示,B7H4蛋白在癌组织中的阳性表达率为38.2%(47/123),显著高于正常乳腺导管上皮细胞(P <0.01);B7H4蛋白表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌临床分期、HER2表达和淋巴结转移有关(P <0.05,P <0.05,P <0.001);Kaplan-Meier生存分析法显示,B7H4阳性表达的乳腺浸润性导管癌患者生存期明显低于阴性表达患者。由此,B7H4可能与乳腺癌的进展密切相关,其阳性表达可作为乳腺浸润性导管癌的潜在预后生物标志物。     

PLK1在乳腺癌分子亚型中的表达及其与基底细胞样型乳腺癌的关系

目的:探讨乳腺癌各分子亚型中PLK1的表达及其与基底细胞样型乳腺癌的关系.方法:回顾性分析803例乳腺浸润性导管癌的临床病理资料,按照Nielsen标准将乳腺浸润性导管癌分成腺腔A型、腺腔B型、HER-2过表达型、基底细胞样型和普通乳腺样型.检测PLK1在5种不同乳腺癌亚型中的表达水平并分析其与基底细胞样型乳腺癌的关系.结果:PLK1在基底细胞样型、普通乳腺样型、HER-2过表达型、腺腔A型及腺腔B型乳腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为58.94%(56/95),39.39%(65/165),33.33%(22/66),17.91%(79/441)及5.56%(2/36).PLK1在ER阴性的乳腺癌分子亚型中的表达显著高于其在ER阳性的乳腺癌分子亚型中的表达,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);PLK1的表达与ER呈负相关,与Ki-67表达呈正相关(P<0.01),与HER-2无显著相关性.ER阴性乳腺癌中,PLK1在基底细胞样型乳腺癌中的阳性表达率最高,显著高于其在HER-2过表达型及普通乳腺样型乳腺癌中的表达,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).而HER-2过表达型与普通乳腺样型中相比,PLK1的表达差异无统计学意义(P=0.390).PLK1的表达与基底细胞样型乳腺癌的淋巴结转移及临床分期相关,而与肿瘤大小及患者年龄无关.结论:PLK1过表达可能与ER阴性的基底细胞样型乳腺癌关系更密切,并在基底细胞样型乳腺的浸润、转移中起重要作用.     

COX-2、VEGF在乳腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和环氧化酶-2(COX-2)在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理特征之间的关系。方法应用免疫组化S-P法检测不同乳腺组织中VEGF和COX-2的表达情况。结果VEGF、COX-2在乳腺导管癌组织中的表达明显上调,与其在正常乳腺组织、纤维腺瘤组织中的表达相比差异显著(P<0.01)。VEGF、COX-2在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的阳性表达率高于其在乳腺导管癌中的阳性表达率。两组中COX-2的表达有显著性差异(77.1%vs40%,P<0.05),VEGF的表达无显著性差异(80.0%vs70%,P>0.05)。VEGF在乳腺浸润性导管癌的阳性表达与其临床分期、淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05,P<0.01),与肿瘤大小无关(P>0.05)。COX-2在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的阳性表达与其临床分期、淋巴结转移及肿瘤大小均无关(P>0.05)。VEGF、COX-2在乳腺导管癌中的表达呈正相关(r=0.98,P<0.05)。结论VEGF、COX-2的高表达在乳腺癌的发生发展过程中起重要的作用,可作为重要的生物学标志。     

乳腺浸润性导管癌中MT1-MMP的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨MT1-MMP的表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌临床病理特征的关系.方法 采用免疫组化EnVision法检测43例乳腺癌组织及正常癌旁组织中MT1-MMP的表达,并分析MT1-MMP的表达与临床病理参数之间的关系.结果 MT1-MMP在正常乳腺组织中不表达,在乳腺导管癌细胞、癌旁间质中均有表达,乳腺癌细胞质、细胞膜表达MT1-MMP.结论 MT1-MMP的表达与乳腺癌肿块直径、淋巴结转移、临床分期呈正相关,与ER、PR无相关性,可作为判断乳腺癌侵袭转移能力的一个指标.     

乳腺浸润性导管癌中Livin和MMP-7的表达及临床意义

目的检测凋亡抑制蛋白家族新成员Livin和基质金属蛋白酶-7(matrix metallo proteinase 7,MMP-7)在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达,探讨两者表达的相关性及其临床意义。方法采用免疫组化SP法检测Livin和MMP-7在乳腺浸润性导管癌和癌旁乳腺组织中的表达,并分析两者表达的相关性及其与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者临床病理特征的关系。进一步应用Western blot法检测乳腺浸润性导管癌及其相应的癌旁乳腺组织中Livin和MMP-7蛋白的表达水平。结果 Livin和MMP-7在乳腺浸润性导管癌和癌旁乳腺组织中的阳性率分别为65%vs 10%和73.3%vs 25%,且两者在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的阳性率均高于癌旁乳腺组织(P0.05)。统计学分析显示,Livin表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌患者的淋巴结转移和TNM分期具有正相关性(P0.05),MMP-7表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌的淋巴结转移、组织学分级均具有正相关性(P0.05)。Livin与MMP-7表达具有正相关性(r=0.322,P=0.007)。Western blot结果也表明,Livin与MMP-7蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的表达水平均高于癌旁乳腺组织。结论 Livin和MMP-7表达与乳腺浸润性导管癌的转移有关,两者可能具有协同作用促进乳腺浸润性导管癌的发展演进。     

乳腺浸润性导管癌神经侵犯的临床病理分析

目的探讨乳腺浸润性导管癌神经侵犯的相关临床病理影响因素。方法收集544例未经新辅助化疗的乳腺浸润性导管癌患者的临床病理资料,分析神经侵犯与乳腺癌临床病理特征的关系。结果544例乳腺浸润性导管癌中,神经侵犯阳性125例、阴性419例。单因素分析结果显示,乳腺浸润性导管癌神经侵犯与淋巴结转移数目、Ki-67增殖指数、ER及HER-2表达有关;与患者年龄、肿瘤直径、腋下淋巴结是否转移、TNM分期、脉管侵犯、分子分型、组织学分级和PR水平均无关。乳腺浸润性导管癌神经侵犯个数与患者年龄、腋下淋巴结是否转移、淋巴结转移个数及ER水平有关;与肿瘤直径、TNM分期、脉管侵犯、分子分型、组织学分级、Ki-67、PR及HER-2表达无关。多因素Logistic回归分析表明,淋巴结转移数目、ER、HER-2和Ki-67为乳腺浸润性导管癌神经侵犯的危险因素。结论乳腺浸润性导管癌患者神经侵犯与淋巴结转移数目、Ki-67增殖指数、ER及HER-2表达有关,且神经侵犯个数与患者年龄、腋下淋巴结是否转移、淋巴结转移个数及ER水平有关。     

乳腺癌中p120连环素和Bmi-1的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨p120及Bmi-1 在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系.方法 采用免疫组化检测135例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中p120、Bmi-1及ER、PR、c-erbB-2表达情况,并检测了20例乳腺增生症中p120、Bmi-1表达情况.结果 p120异常表达率及Bmi-1高表达率在135例乳腺浸润性导管癌中分别为67.4% 和 48.1%,在20例乳腺增生症中分别为5%和10%,以上两组之间差异有显著性(P<0.01).p120异常表达与高组织学分级、淋巴结转移和临床较晚分期均有明显相关性(P<0.05).Bmi-1高表达与淋巴结转移、临床较晚分期均有明显相关性(P<0.05).并且,p120异常表达与Bmi-1高表达呈明显正相关(r=0.259,P<0.01).结论 p120异常表达与Bmi-1高表达在乳腺癌的发生及发展过程中可能发挥了协同或相关的作用.p120与Bmi-1可能成为预测乳腺浸润性导管癌生物学行为及指导靶向治疗的新的分子标记物.     

乳腺浸润性导管癌中ER、PR、Her-2、Ki-67表达与病理特征及预后的相关性

目的 探究Ki-67、ER、PR、Her-2等基因在乳腺浸润性导管癌（IDC）组织中的表达,分析其与患者临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法 收集2013年1月~2014年12月广东医科大学附属医院病理科乳腺包埋石蜡块IDC组织74例。采用免疫组织化学法检测ER、PR、Her-2、Ki-67在IDC组织中的表达,分析其与患者年龄、组织学分级、TNM分期、淋巴结转移及预后的相关性。结果 ①不同年龄、组织学分级、淋巴结转移及TNM分期的IDC患者ER、PR表达情况比较,差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;未发生淋巴结转移的IDC患者Her-2表达低于转移患者,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;不同年龄、组织学分级、TNM分期的IDC患者Her-2表达比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;不同TNM分期的IDC患者Ki-67表达情况比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,不同年龄、组织学分级、淋巴结转移的IDC患者Ki-67表达比较,差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。 ②Spearman相关性分析显示,ER与PR正相关,ER与Her-2、PR与Her-2负相关,ER、Ki-67和PR、Ki-67负相关,Her-2与Ki-67正相关。③Ki-67阳性表达的IDC患者病死率高于Ki-67阴性表达的患者,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;不同ER、PR、Her-2表达情况的IDC患者病死率比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;Ki-67阴性表达患者的总生存时间（OS）高于阳性表达患者,COX多因素分析显示,Ki-67阳性表达是影响IDC患者OS的独立因素（95%CI:0.212~0.865,P=0.018）。结论 Ki-67可作为乳腺浸润性导管癌危险评估的分子标志物,其阳性表达可影响乳腺癌患者的预后。ER、PR、Her-2的表达对乳腺浸润性导管癌患者的预后没有明显影响。     

上皮钙黏蛋白、波形蛋白和Snail蛋白表型在乳腺浸润性导管癌中表达的相关性及其与预后的关系

目的 检测上皮钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达情况与乳腺癌病理特征的关系及其与浸润性导管癌预后的关系.方法 采用Envision免疫组织化学方法对89例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中的上E-cadhenn,Vimentin和Snail蛋白表达情况进行检测并分析表达程度与临床病理特征之间的关系;统计分析采用卡方检验、Fisher精确概率法检验Spearman等级相关检验、配对计数资料检验、Kaplan-Meier法进行单因素生存分析,Cox比例风险模型进行生存的多因素分析.结果 E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在浸润性导管癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为、47.1％、53.9％和55.0％,三者呈负相关,(P=0.003);E-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail蛋白的表达与临床TNM分期有关(P ＜0.005).浸润性导管癌中Snail蛋白、Vimentin表达明显增高,Snail蛋白与淋巴结转移有关(P =0.029);Vimentin与淋巴结转移、雌激素状态有关(P =0.006,P＜0.001);E-cadherin表达明显降低,与孕激素状态有关(P =0.030);分子分型结果显示,管腔A型、HER-2阳性型组的Vimentin、Snail蛋白阳性表达率低于基地细胞样型组(P =0.012),而E-cadherin表达率则高于基地细胞样型组(P =0.004).Cox分析发现,E-cadherin低表达和Vimentin的过度表达与患者总生存期(P =0.019、P=0.045)及患者无病生存期(P =0.032、P=0.024)显著相关,但Snail蛋白的表达与总生存期及无病生存期无相关性(P =0.879、P=0.835).结论 E-cadhern、Vimentin和Snail蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌的发生、发展、侵袭及转移中起重要作用,对认识乳腺癌的生物学特性以及对指导乳腺癌的诊疗及预后具有重要意义.     

乳腺良、恶性病变组织中MMP-26蛋白的表达及其与ER的关系

目的检测基质金属蛋白酶-26(MMP-26)蛋白在人乳腺良、恶性病变组织中的表达,及其与部分临床指标的关系,分析MMP-26在肿瘤进展中的作用及临床意义,并探讨雌激素及其受体(ER)对MMP-26蛋白表达调节作用。方法应用免疫组化SP法,检测MMP-26蛋白在正常乳腺组织、乳腺增生症、原位癌和乳腺浸润性导管癌(IDC)中的表达,以及ER在IDC中的表达并进行评分,结果用INSTAT统计软件分析。结果6例正常乳腺组织和8例乳腺增生症中,分别有1例MMP-26呈弱阳性表达,阳性率分别为16.7%和12.5%。4例原位癌中MMP-26全部阳性表达。在67例IDC中,有41例MMP-26阳性表达,阳性率为61.2%。MMP-26的表达与发病年龄、肿瘤大小、病理学分级无关,而与淋巴结转移密切相关(P<0.05)。MMP-26蛋白在IDC的阳性表达与ER在癌组织中的表达呈明显的负相关(P<0.01)。结论MMP-26在肿瘤浸润和转移中发挥重要作用;MMP-26在IDC中的表达可能受雌激素及其受体的调节。     

Mean nuclear area and metallothionein expression in ductal breast tumors: correlation with estrogen receptor status.

Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy in women. Estrogen is an important growth factor for breast tumor that plays an important role in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells. Nuclear morphometry and metallothioneins (MTs) are indicators of proliferation that have been used as predictors of prognosis in many tumors. The present study aimed to study mean nuclear area (MNA) and MT; estrogen receptor (ER) expression in fibroadenoma (FA), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. Also MNA and MT expression will be correlated with histologic grade and ER status in breast carcinoma. Breast tissues from 18 patients with FA, 10 patients with DCIS, and 40 patients with IDC were used in this study. MNA and MT expression; as proliferation markers; were investigated and correlated with ER status. All cases of FA, 7 out of 10 cases (70%) of DCIS and 23 out of 40 cases (57.5%) of IDC were positive for ER. MNA of cancer cells was significantly larger than that of normal and benign breast tissue. A significant direct correlation was found between MNA and histologic grades. MNA of ER-negative carcinomas was significantly larger than that of ER-positive tumors. In normal and benign breast tissue, myoepithelial cells consistently expressed the MT protein. Four out of 10 DCIS cases (40%) and 24 out of 40 cases of IDC cases (60%) were positively stained for MT. MT positivity was directly correlated with histologic grade of IDC. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between MT and ER overexpression. From this study, it is concluded that in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, the large MNA and MT overexpression are correlated with histologic grades and ER negativity. Therefore, large MNA and MT overexpression may be possible important indicators for more aggressive and less differentiated breast carcinoma.     

原发性乳腺癌组织中KLK6蛋白和mRNA的表达及其临床病理学意义

目的:探讨KLK6蛋白及其mRNA在原发性乳腺癌组织中的表达和临床意义.方法:随机选取原发性乳腺癌患者88例并收集其术后标本, 采用SABC免疫组化方法和RT-PCR技术, 检测乳腺癌组织和正常乳腺组织中KLK6蛋白及其mRNA的表达.并分析其与原发性乳腺癌组织临床病理学特征之间的关系.结果:KLK6蛋白在原发性乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率为78.40% (69/88), 并与癌组织的临床病理学特征有关;发生淋巴结转移及ER( )的癌组织中KLK6蛋白的阳性表达率明显低于未转移组(P<0.05)及ER(-)组(P<0.05).KLK6 mRNA在原发性乳腺癌组织中的表达水平显著高于正常乳腺组织(P<0.01);但发生淋巴结转移的癌组织中, KLK6 mRNA的表达水平明显低于未转移组(P<0.05);ER 组亦低于ER(-)组(P<0.05).KLK6蛋白及其mRNA的表达与乳腺癌相关基因CerbB-2 的表达无相关性(P>0.05) .结论:KLK6蛋白及其mRNA的异常表达可能与原发性乳腺癌的发生、浸润、转移有关, 可以作为一个肿瘤标志物在临床中应用.     

HNF4A immunohistochemistry facilitates distinction between primary and metastatic breast and gastric carcinoma

The distinction between primary gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric metastatic breast carcinoma can be difficult. Expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A) has been described as being specific to distinguish between neoplastic gastric and breast epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to validate the use of HNF4A with immunohistochemistry in discriminating gastric from breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemical expressions of HNF4A, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and BRST-2 were determined in primary sporadic gastric adenocarcinomas (n?=?107) and breast carcinomas (n?=?105). The same markers and clinicopathological features were studied in 1 patient with breast metastasis of gastric cancer, 6 patients with gastric metastases of breast cancer, and 13 patients with both primary gastric and breast carcinomas. HNF4A expression was seen in 106 of 107 primary gastric adenocarcinomas and was absent in all 105 primary breast carcinomas (sensitivity 99 %, specificity 100 %). ER, PR, and BRST-2 were 100 % specific for breast carcinomas with sensitivities of 77, 58, and 38 %, respectively. The metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the breast showed strong expression of HNF4A. None of the metastases of breast carcinomas to the stomach showed expression of HNF4A. Tissues of patients with two primary carcinomas showed strong expression of HNF4A in all gastric carcinomas and no expression in breast carcinomas. Our results indicate that HNF4A is a very good marker to discriminate between primary and metastatic gastric and breast carcinomas.     

Lack of expression of androgen receptor may play a critical role in transformation from in situ to invasive basal subtype of high-grade ductal carcinoma of the breast

Androgen receptor has been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma. In this study, we explored the potential role of androgen receptor in breast cancer by analyzing its expression using immunohistochemistry and its relationship with tumor progress (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] versus invasive ductal carcinoma [IDC]); nuclear grades (high grade [HG] versus non-high grade); expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2; and 3 molecular classifications: cytokeratin classification, triple (ER/PR/HER-2) negative classification, and ER/HER-2 classification in 184 breast carcinomas. We found that (1) lack of androgen receptor expression was associated with HG-IDC and with basal subtypes of HG-IDC, suggesting androgen receptor may play an important role in preventing the invasive transformation in this subgroup of breast carcinoma. (2) HG-IDC and HG-DCIS more frequently expressed androgen receptor than ER (55%-93% for androgen receptor and 18%-30% for ER) and were frequently androgen receptor+/ER- (63% for HG-DCIS and 39% for HG-IDC), which made androgen receptor a possible therapeutic target. (3) One third of HG-IDC was negative for androgen receptor, ER, PR, and HER-2, suggesting that further studies are needed to identify other key molecules for targeted therapy. We purpose that androgen receptor should be routinely measured for breast cancer.     

p53 mutation in breast cancer. Correlation with cell kinetics and cell of origin

AIM: Several studies have investigated the expression of the cytokeratins (CKs), vimentin, the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), the oestrogen receptor (ER), and the progesterone receptor (PgR), in breast cancer, but no study has directly compared p53 mutations with these phenotypic and differentiation markers in the same case. The present study was designed to provide some of this information. METHODS: The expression of the p53 and bcl-2 proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in relation to phenotypic characteristics and cellular kinetic parameters (mitotic index and apoptotic index) in 37 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 27 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. In addition, p53 gene mutation was examined by polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP). RESULTS: Thirteen cases (eight DCIS and five IDC) showed expression of CK8, CK14, CK18, vimentin, and EGFR, consistent with a stem cell phenotype, whereas 44 cases (27 DCIS and 17 IDC) showed expression of CK8 and CK1, weak or negative expression of CK18, but were negative for vimentin and EGFR, consistent with a luminal cell phenotype. DCIS and IDC cases with a stem cell phenotype were ER/PgR negative and intermediately or poorly differentiated. In contrast, the cases with luminal cell phenotype were ER/PgR positive and well or intermediately differentiated. In addition, intermediately or poorly differentiated cases with a stem cell phenotype showed higher proliferative activity (per cent of MIB-l positive cells) than did intermediately or well differentiated cases with a luminal cell phenotype. Both DCIS and IDC cases with a stem cell phenotype were p53 positive and bcl-2 negative by immunohistochemistry. In IDC, p53 expression was associated with a reduction of both mitotic index and apoptotic index compared with DCIS. Most of the tumours showing a more differentiated phenotype (luminal) were p53 negative and bcl-2 positive. In these cases, cell kinetic parameters increased from DCIS to IDC. These data suggest the existence of subsets of DCIS and IDC that, because of their phenotypic characteristics, could be derived from subpopulations of normal breast cells having different control mechanisms of cell proliferation and neoplastic progression. CONCLUSIONS: These results are compatible with the hypothesis that the phenotype of the cell of origin constrains both tumour phenotype and the choice of genetic events; however, the occurrence of p53 mutants by chance during neoplastic transformation cannot be excluded.     

Expression of cytokeratin markers, ER-alpha, PR, HER-2/neu, and EGFR in pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and DCIS with co-existing invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast

Previously, we showed that pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast can be divided into 3 subtypes (luminal, basal/stem, and null) based on the expression of 5 cytokeratin (CK) markers: CK5/6, CK14, CK17 (stem/basal), and CK8, CK18 (luminal). The distributions of CK subtypes were associated with nuclear grade and differential expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2/neu, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this study, we further explore the expression patterns of CK markers, ER-alpha, PR, HER-2/neu, and EGFR by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of 99 cases of pure DCIS and 96 cases of DCIS with co-existing invasive ductal carcinoma (DCIS/IDC). We show that between high-grade DCIS and DCIS/IDC, there are differential expression patterns for ER-alpha, PR, and EGFR in corresponding CK subtypes, suggesting that at least some pure DCIS is molecularly distinct from DCIS/IDC. In most cases there is a high degree of co-expression of these markers between DCIS and the co-existing IDC, suggesting that DCIS is frequently a precursor lesion for co-existing IDC. The rate of discordant expression of these markers is low and is more frequently associated with high-grade carcinoma, suggesting that other molecular pathways also may also be present. There are significant differences in the expression of these molecular markers between high-grade and non-high-grade carcinomas, supporting the view that high-grade and non-high-grade carcinomas of the breast are molecularly distinct entities.