肿瘤干细胞相关标记物CD44及CD24在乳腺癌中的表达及其意义

目的探讨肿瘤干细胞相关标记物CD44及CD24在乳腺癌组织中的表达特点、CD44+/CD24-细胞与HER-2、ER、PR、CK5/6表达的相互关系及其与临床病理因素的关系。方法采用免疫组化SP单染及双染法检测42例乳腺导管原位癌及126例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中CD44及CD24的表达情况,检测126例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中HER-2、ER、PR、CK5/6表达状况以进行免疫分型。结果 (1)CD44阳性定位于癌细胞膜。在浸润癌中阳性率为56.3%,在导管原位癌中阳性率为85.7%。两者差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。在不同分化程度的乳腺浸润性癌中,CD44阳性率分别为69.2%、58.1%及44.7%,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。(2)CD24阳性表达于非癌性乳腺组织中小管的腔缘;在癌组织中除腔缘阳性外,可出现膜质阳性。在浸润癌中阳性率为32.5%,在导管原位癌中阳性率为64.3%。两者差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。(3)126例浸润性导管癌中CD44+/CD24-者65例,占51.6%;CD44+/CD24-阳性细胞在Luminal A型为47.5%、Luminal B型为42.9%、HER-...     

在乳腺癌干细胞中Hedgehog信号通路相关基因表达增强

目的 了解Hedgehog信号通路在乳腺癌发生发展中的作用.方法 用免疫磁珠法从无血清培养的乳腺癌悬浮细胞中分选CD44+CD24-细胞和非CD44+CD24-细胞,用real-time RT-PCR法检测Hedgehog信号通路主要分子$HH、PTCH1、SMO和GLI1 mRNA在细胞中的表达,用免疫组织化学法检测上述因子在乳腺癌组织中的表达.结果 分选出的CD44+CIDA-细胞约占乳腺癌悬浮细胞总数的8.25%,分选出的CD44+CD24-细胞表达干细胞标志蛋白ALDHA1和Oct-4;SHH、PTCH1、SMO和GLI1 mRNA在CD44+CD24-细胞中的表达均高于其在非CD44+CD24-细胞中的表达(P＜0.05);SMO和GLI1蛋白在三阴性乳腺癌的表达均高于非三阴性乳腺癌组织(P＜0.05).结论 在乳腺癌干细胞CD44+CD24-细胞中Hedgehog信号通路被激活,抑制癌症干细胞中Hedgehog通路的活化可能会降低或阻止乳腺癌的复发及化疗耐受.     

受体型酪氨酸磷酸酶D在乳腺癌干细胞特性中的影响

目的探讨受体型酪氨酸磷酸酶D(protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type D,PTPRD)对乳腺癌干细胞特性的影响。方法采用小RNA干扰技术下调PTPRD在乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB231中的表达;用乳腺球成球实验检测干细胞的自我更新能力;用全克隆形成实验检测细胞全克隆形成能力;用流式细胞技术检测CD44~+/CD24~-细胞比例;用小鼠成瘤实验分析乳腺癌细胞在小鼠中的成瘤能力;用免疫磁珠法分选CD44~+/CD24~-干细胞群及非干细胞群,用免疫荧光技术检测PTPRD在干细胞及非干细胞中的表达;用Western blot法检测蛋白表达。结果 PTPRD下调促进干细胞标记分子ALDH1及OCT-4的表达。乳腺癌干细胞中PTPRD表达显著低于非干细胞(P 0. 05)。PTPRD下调后,乳腺癌细胞的乳腺球形成数(147±3. 51)显著高于对照组(106±12. 5)(P 0. 05);全克隆形成比例[(35. 9±3. 4)%]显著高于对照组[(11. 2±5. 3)%](P 0. 05); CD44~+/CD24~-细胞的比例[(2. 88±1. 2)%]显著高于对照组[(0. 6±0. 4)%];乳腺癌细胞在裸鼠中成瘤能力显著上调(P 0. 05)。结论乳腺癌干细胞中PTPRD低表达,PTPRD可抑制乳腺癌干细胞的自我更新能力。     

盐霉素通过TGFβ1/Smad信号通路抑制MMP-2、9降低CD44~+/CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞迁移和侵袭能力

目的分析盐霉素对CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞迁移和侵袭能力的影响,并初步探讨其影响机制。方法通过有血清和无血清培养技术培养人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞株,收集两种细胞,对其CD24、CD44标志物进行荧光染色,采用流式细胞仪检测CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)亚群细胞的比例;盐霉素培养MCF-7细胞株和CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞,MTT法筛选出引起CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞细胞凋亡低于IC50的浓度;Transwell技术检测MCF-7和CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,以筛选出的浓度诱导CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞,以排除盐霉素对该细胞增殖抑制作用的影响,Transwell技术检测该细胞迁移和侵袭能力的变化;Western blot技术检测TGFβ1、Smad2、Smad3、p-Smad2、pSmad3、MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白水平的变化。结果 CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞在无血清培养和有血清培养中的比例分别为(86.93±0.53)%和(19.98±0.62)%(P0.01),CD44~+ /CD24~+ 表型细胞的比例分别是(12.68±0.59)%和(79.90±0.57)%(P0.01);MTT法筛选出低于IC50的浓度是1、3、5、7μmol/L;Transwell技术检测CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞迁移和侵袭能力明显高于MCF-7细胞株,并随盐霉素浓度的上升呈下降趋势(P0.05)。Western blot技术检测TGFβ1、Smad2、Smad3、p-Smad2、p-Smad3、MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白水平下调(P0.01)。结论盐霉素可能通过TGFβ1/Smad信号通路下调MMP-2、MMP-9蛋白水平,从而降低CD44~+ /CD24~(-/low)表型乳腺癌干细胞迁移和侵袭能力。     

Expression of CD44+/Ki-67- and its significance in colorectal cancer and human colorectal cancer cell lines SW620

目的 探讨结直肠癌及人结肠癌细胞系SW620中CD44+/Ki-67-癌细胞的形态特点、数量及分布特征.方法 利用组织芯片技术、免疫组化染色、免疫组化双重染色和HE染色,连续切片,同部位观察.结果 正常肠黏膜中CD44蛋白不表达,Ki-67蛋白低表达;腺瘤中CD44蛋白低表达,Ki-67蛋白表达率为5.06%,CD44+/Ki-67-细胞数为0.58%.结直肠癌中CD44+/Ki-67-癌细胞数平均为5.82%,主要分布在腺体基膜缘或腺体共壁侧,分布有统计学意义(P<0.05).癌细胞主要有两种形态,一种是大核细胞,另一种细胞核较小,形似淋巴细胞;在SW620中CD44+/Ki-67-主要表达在小圆细胞和单极细胞中,其它细胞中表达少;细胞数比率与组织学相比,差异无显著性(P>0.05)且比值接近;Ki-67-的癌细胞中,CD44+癌细胞占67%,CD44-癌细胞占33%,两者差异有显著性(P<0.05),说明大多CD44+癌细胞处于G0期或静息期,只有少数细胞处于细胞G1、S、G2、M期.结论 CD44+/Ki-67-癌细胞特征和从癌干细胞理论方面考虑,更适合作为癌干细胞的标记,为癌干细胞的分离、靶向治疗和个体化治疗提供可靠的分子生物学指标.     

CD44+/CD24-细胞在乳腺癌组织及细胞系中的数量与分布

目的 检测CD44+/CIY24-细胞在乳腺癌组织及细胞系中的分布及数量,探讨其与乳腺癌常用标志物表达和乳腺癌分子亚型的关系.方法 采用免疫组织化学SP双染及单染法,分别检测了60例乳腺浸润性导管癌中的CD44及C1724的共表达情况和ER、PR、HER2、人雌激素诱导蛋白PS2、bcl-2、nm23的单独表达情况,同时检测了三种乳腺痛细胞系(MCF-7、MDA-MB-468及MDA-MB-231)中CD44及CD24的表达情况.结果 不同病例标本中CD44+/C1724-细胞的数量差异较大,分布无明显规律,总阳性率为65.0%;CD44+/CD24-细胞数量与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移情况及ER、PR、HER-2、人雌激素诱导蛋白PS2、bcl-2、nm23表达情况无关(P均>0.05);CD44+/CD24-细胞数量与乳腺癌分子亚型无关.CD44+/CIY24-细胞在MCF-7、MDA-MB-468及MDA-MB-231细胞系中的比例分别为<1%、5%及>80%.结论 CD44+/CD24-细胞存在于部分乳腺癌组织及细胞系中,其数量及分布与乳腺癌的分子亚型和临床病理参数无直接关系.     

丹酚酸B对骨髓间充质干细胞增殖和血管内皮生长因子表达的影响

目的 体外分离、培养和纯化大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(MSC),并研究中药单体丹酚酸B对MSC增殖和分泌血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的影响.方法 用贴壁培养法分离、培养和纯化MSC.免疫荧光法检测细胞抗原CD44和CD34.用含不同浓度丹酚酸B的低糖DMEM培养液培养MSC 24 h后,用MTT法检测细胞增殖水平.RT-PCR检测培养24 h、48 h、72 h 后VEGF mRNA的表达.结果 获得纯化的MSC,免疫荧光检测细胞表面标记CD44呈阳性,CD34呈阴性.MTT结果 显示,0.3 mg/L和3 mg/L丹酚酸B均可促进MSC的增殖,与空白对照组差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01,P<0.05),而003 mg/L和30 mg/L丹酚酸B组细胞的增殖与空白对照组差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).随着培养时间的增加,0.03、0.3、3和30 mg/L丹酚酸B均可明显促进VEGF mRNA的表达,与空白对照组相比差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),而空白对照组的VEGF mRNA表达无明显变化.结论 用贴壁培养法可获得纯化的MSC.丹酚酸B可促进MSC增殖和VEGF mRNA的表达.     

不同类型乳腺组织中CD44~+/CD24~-细胞的数量与分布

目的检测CD44+/CD24-细胞在乳腺正常组织及良恶性肿瘤中的数量与分布特点,探讨其在乳腺癌发生、发展中的作用。方法采用免疫组化SP双染法,检测了30例乳腺正常组织(normal tissue,NT),30例乳腺纤维腺瘤(fibroadenoma,FA),60例乳腺浸润性导管癌(invasive ductal carcinoma,IDC)中的CD44及CD24的共表达情况。结果在乳腺NT及FA中,可见CD44+/CD24+,CD44+/CD24-,CD44-/CD24-3种表型,而在IDC中,除上述3种表型外,尚可见CD44-/CD24+表型。从NT,FA到IDC,CD44+/CD24-细胞的阴性率(-,阳性率1%)依次降低(40.0%→36.7%→35.0%);而强阳性率(,阳性率60%)依次升高(0.0→6.7%→21.7%)。结论 CD44+/CD24-可能作为一种阶段性祖细胞标记,参与了正常乳腺的分化及乳腺肿瘤的发展过程。     

去胰岛素的乳腺癌干细胞培养及雌激素诱导的作用

 目的：探讨去除胰岛素的乳腺癌干细胞悬浮培养方法以及雌激素诱导的作用。方法：通过使用去除胰岛素的悬浮培养方法获得乳腺癌细胞系MCF7的肿瘤球细胞,并通过形态学观察、CD24-CD44+表达细胞的检测、醛脱氢酶1（ALDH1）蛋白的表达以及细胞多向分化能力对该干细胞模型的可靠性进行鉴定。给予10-10 mol/L 17β-雌二醇(E2β)对该干细胞模型处理7 d,观察上述相关指标的变化。结果：去除胰岛素的悬浮培养方法获得的瘤细胞球呈葡萄状,由30～60个细胞组成。细胞球显示细胞角蛋白18和CD10蛋白均表达阳性,CD44+CD24-细胞的含量及ALDH1蛋白表达量均较贴壁细胞明显增高（P<0.05）。使用10-10 mol/L E2β处理MCF7肿瘤球细胞7 d,肿瘤球细胞数及体积增大。使用10-10 mol/L E2β处理MCF7肿瘤球细胞24 h,CD44+CD24-细胞数量及ALDH1蛋白表达量较未处理组明显升高（P<0.05）。结论：去除胰岛素的悬浮培养方法可有效建立乳腺癌干细胞体外研究模型,并可用于E2β对乳腺癌干细胞生长调控的研究。     

低氧对大鼠大脑皮层神经干细胞增殖和分化的影响

目的:观察和分析不同低氧浓度对大鼠大脑皮层神经干细胞(neural stem cells,NSC S)增殖和分化的影响。方法:在1%O2、4%O2和常氧环境(20%O2)下培养新生SD大鼠神经干细胞,对神经球计数并测量其直径,分析不同低氧对神经干细胞增殖效率和增殖速度的影响;分化48 h后行β微管蛋白Ⅲ(β-tubulin III)和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP)免疫细胞荧光染色,对神经元和星形胶质细胞进行计数并分别计算各占的比例。结果:(1)低氧对神经干细胞增殖效率和增殖速度的影响:1%低氧组神经球数量明显低于常氧对照组,具有显著性差异(P<0.05);4%低氧组神经球数量高于对照组,具有显著性差异(P<0.05)。在24 h、36 h和48 h,1%低氧组神经球的直径都小于对照组,在24 h和36 h时具有显著性差异(P<0.05),在48 h具有非常显著性差异(P<0.01);在24 h、36 h和48 h,4%低氧组神经球的直径都大于对照组,在36 h时具有显著性差异(P<0.05),在48 h具有非常显著性差异(P<0.01)。(2)1%低氧组神经元的比例(0.614±0.056)显著高于其对照组(0.471±0.067)(P<0.01);而1%低氧组星形胶质细胞的比例(0.241±0.051)低于其对照组(0.322±0.067)(P<0.05)。4%低氧组神经元的比例(0.625±0.072)显著高于其对照组(0.513±0.032)(P<0.05);而4%低氧组星形胶质细胞的比例(0.237±0.053)显著低于其对照组(0.285±0.042)(P<0.05)。结论:和常氧对照组相比,4%O2促进大鼠大脑皮层神经干细胞的增殖,而1%O2抑制了神经干细胞的增殖;1%O2和4%O2都促进神经干细胞向神经元方向分化,同时抑制向星形胶质细胞分化,1%O2的这种作用更为显著。     

Immunolocalization of BRCA1 protein in normal breast tissue and sporadic invasive ductal carcinomas: a correlation with other biological parameters

AIM: BRCA1, a nuclear phosphoprotein, normally functions as a negative regulator of the cell cycle and may be an active inhibitor of neoplastic progression. Mutation of the BRCA1 gene has been demonstrated in 80% of familial breast cancer. Decreased mRNA levels or aberrant subcellular locations of BRCA1 have been identified in breast cancer lines and in sporadic cases of breast cancer tissues. The expression of BRCA1 in large series of variously differentiated breast carcinomas with correlation with other biological parameters has not been clarified. METHODS AND RESULTS: The BRCA1 expression in normal breast tissue (n = 15) and in sporadic cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (n=108) was determined using immunohistochemistry. BRCA1 expression was correlated with other prognostic parameters including p53, c-erbB-2, bcl-2, oestrogen receptor (ER), histological grade, tumour size, axillary lymph node status and age. BRCA1 was exclusively (100%) localized in the nuclei of normal ductal and lobular epithelia. However, this nuclear expression pattern was variable in breast carcinoma (76.8%). Loss of nuclear BRCA1 expression (22 of 108 cases, 20.4%) correlated well with high histological grade (P<0.025) and bcl-2-negative tumours (P<0.05) and frequently in ER-negative tumours. CONCLUSION: BRCA1 nuclear expression could be considered to represent the normal or physiological phenotype. Complete loss of BRCA1 nuclear expression in breast cancer and its correlation with other poor prognostic markers suggest that BRCA1 expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of sporadic breast carcinoma. Altered BRCA1 phenotype may therefore provide an additional prognostic parameter for breast cancer.     

Clinicopathologic correlation of cancer stem cell markers CD44, CD24, VEGF and HIF-1α in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of breast: an immunohistochemistry-based pilot study

CD24^−/lowCD44⁺ cells have been identified as putative cancer stem cells (CSCs) in breast cancer. However, the expression of these markers, as well as their association with clinical parameters or tumor microenvironment of breast cancer, remains largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the expression of CD44, CD24, VEGF, and HIF-1α in human breast tumor tissues and assessed their clinicopathological correlations. We investigated tissue samples, including 117 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDCa), 14 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 15 cases of intraductal hyperplasia (IDH) from breast tissues. The expression of CD44, CD24, HIF-1α, and VEGF was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. CD24, CD44, HIF-1α, and VEGF were expressed in 49 (41.9%), 51 (43.6%), 32 (27.4%), and 97 cases (82.9%), respectively, in IDCa. CD24^−/lowCD44⁺ cells were noted in 48 (41.3%) cases. The levels of CD24 and VEGF expression correlated positively with tumor malignancy (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of CD24, CD44, and VEGF correlated significantly positively with increasing tumor grade (P < 0.05). In addition, associations between CD44 and VEGF, CD24 and VEGF, HIF-1α and VEGF, CD24^−/lowCD44⁺ and VEGF, CD24^−/lowCD44⁺ and HIF-1α were also observed (P < 0.05). The HIF-1α expression level was relatively higher in early stage breast cancer patients with CD24^−/lowCD44⁺ cells. Taken together, our results suggest that CD24 and VEGF may play important roles in breast tumorigenesis and progression, while HIF-1α may play a role in the early stage of breast carcinogenesis.     

CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells are transit progenitors and do not determine the molecular subtypes and clinical parameters in breast carcinomas

CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells have been associated with breast cancer stem/progenitor cell features. However, the status of this phenotype cells in normal, benign and malignant breast tissues has not been studied, and the clinical correlation of this subpopulation in breast cancer is not fully understood. The present study sought to identify these cells in a series of normal, benign, and malignant breast tissues and explore their correlation to the molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma and conventional pathological features. Double-staining immunohistochemistry (DIHC) of CD44 and CD24 was performed on 30 normal breast tissues, 30 breast fibroadenomas (FA), 60 breast invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), and 3 breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231). In the normal breast tissues and FAs, three phenotypes were observed including CD44(+)/CD24(+), CD44(+)/CD24(-), and CD44(-)/CD24(-) cells. In the IDCs, CD44(-)/CD24(+) cells were detected, in addition to the three aforementioned phenotypes. The strong positive rate (+++, incidence >60%) of CD44(+)/CD24(-) was significantly increased from normal breast tissue, FAs to IDCs (0.0%-->6.7%-->21.7%). However, the CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells didn't correlate with ages of patients, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, molecular subtypes, and the expression of ER, PR, HER-2, PS2, Bcl-2, nm23. The proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells in MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231 was about 1, 5, and 80%, respectively. The results indicate that the CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells are transit progenitors and have no association with the molecular subtypes and clinicopathological parameters in the IDCs.     

The clinicopathological significance of CD44+/CD24-/low and CD24+ tumor cells in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast

Breast cancer cells with a CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) phenotype have been suggested to have tumor-initiating properties. It is unclear whether their presence correlates with clinicopathological features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast, an unusual subtype of breast cancer with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. CD44 and CD24 expression was determined by double-staining immunohistochemistry in 103 cases of IMPC and in 94 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells was higher in IMPC than in invasive ductal carcinoma IDC (P=0.018). The CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells were also detected in adjacent stroma surrounding the micropapillary structure in 53.4% (55/103) of IMPC, but only in 7.4% (7/94) of stroma of IDC. These tumor cells in stroma of IMPC were positive for vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin, and negative for E-cadherin. The CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in the micropapillary structure of IMPC were associated with those in stroma (P=0.000). Moreover, they were both associated with lymphovascular invasion and extranodal extension, respectively (P<0.05). The proportion of CD24(+) tumor cells was also higher in IMPC than in IDC (P=0.035), and the CD24(+) tumor cells were associated with lymph node metastasis in IMPC (P=0.010). The results suggest that the increased proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells and CD24(+) tumor cells and the epithelial mesenchymal transition may play an important role in aggressiveness and high metastatic risk of breast IMPC.     

CD44v4在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及 其与浸润转移的关系

目的 探讨CD44v4在浸润性乳腺导管癌中的表达及其与浸润转移的关系。方法 选取2011年1月~2018年3月我院收治的乳腺浸润性导管癌185例设为观察组,另选取同期收治的乳腺良性疾病患者60例设为对照组,采用免疫组化法检测两组CD44v4的表达情况,并比较观察组CD44v4表达及临床病理因素情况。结果 观察组CD44v4阳性表达率为60.54%,高于对照组的5.00%,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。CD44v4表达在不同年龄、绝经前后月经状况、原发瘤大小间比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;不同TNM分期、组织学分级、淋巴结转移患者的CD44v4表达比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 CD44v4蛋白在乳腺浸润性导管癌患者中为高表达,检测其表达可作为判断肿瘤预后的新指标。     

Expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and hyaluronan across the spectrum of normal-hyperplasia-carcinoma in breast.

BACKGROUND: The interaction between transmembrane receptors on epithelial tumor cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix molecules is important in tumor progression and metastasis. This interaction is best exemplified by the relationship of the receptor CD44 and the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA). This study seeks to evaluate the expression and the correlation of CD44s, CD44v6, and HA in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant breast epithelium and stroma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archival paraffin-embedded tissue from cases of normal breast tissue (n=10), intraductal hyperplasia without atypia (n=13), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n=24), stage I infiltrating ductal carcinoma (n=28), stage II infiltrating ductal carcinoma (n=31), and their corresponding positive lymph nodes were retrieved from the surgical pathology files. Tissue sections were evaluated for the expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and HA in the epithelial and stromal cells by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Ductal epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells expressed CD44s in all cases of normal and benign breast tissue. The expression of CD44s in breast epithelium progressively decreased with increasing deviation from normal histology: 83% in DCIS, 46% in stage I ductal carcinoma and 26% in stage II ductal carcinoma. The reverse trend was observed for CD44v6 in ductal epithelium: 0% in normal breast, 15% in intraductal hyperplasia, 100% in DCIS, 82% in stage I infiltrating ductal carcinoma, 94% in stage II carcinoma, and 100% of metastatic carcinoma in the lymph nodes. HA was noted exclusively in the stroma but not in the epithelial cells. HA was faintly expressed in the intralobular stroma of normal breast tissue, confined to a narrow faint band adjacent to intraductal hyperplasia and localized to a broad well-defined band around DCIS. Stromal HA staining was more diffuse and intense in infiltrating carcinomas and was particularly pronounced surrounding the metastatic deposits in lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates decreased expression of CD44s accompanied by increased expression of CD44v6 and increased stromal HA in breast cancer. These findings suggest that CD44s, CD44v6, and HA play complementary roles in the development and progression of breast cancer.     

Expression of CD31 by cells of extensive ductal in situ and invasive carcinomas of the breast

CD31, an adhesion molecule expressed by endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets, is used in surgical pathology as a marker of normal and neoplastic vascularization. During the assessment of angiogenesis in breast carcinomas, CD31 expression was observed in a single case of large (5.2 cm diameter) high nuclear grade ductal carcinoma in situ (HG-DCIS) associated with poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma (G3-IDC). Expression was limited to the cell membrane. This study focused on 32 HG-DCIS> or = 2 cm, either pure or associated with IDC. Cancer cells wereCD31(+) in 11 cases. Double staining using anti-CD31 monoclonal antibody (MAb) and anti-CD44 MAb, the anti-hyaluronate receptor, showed that foci of CD31(+) and CD44(-) tumour cells could be traced throughout the glandular tree, marking the intraductal diffusion of tumour up to Paget's cells at the nipple. The associated G3-IDC and their lymph node metastases were instead CD31(+) and CD44(+). CD31(+) tumours were oestrogen receptor (ER)(-), frequently p53(+) and c-erb-B2(+), and infiltrated by CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Normal and hyperplastic epithelia were constantly CD31(-). Other endothelial markers (e.g Factor VIII-RA and CD34) were not expressed by carcinoma cells, as was CD38, the CD31 ligand. In conclusion, CD31 expression is a feature acquired by breast cancer cells in the DCIS model. CD31 expression mainly correlates with tumour cells spreading within the ductal system. Finally, the invasive phenotype requires the co-expression of CD31 and CD44.