Immunohistochemical study of androgen receptors in breast carcinoma. Evidence of their frequent expression in lobular carcinoma |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Cristina?RivaEmail author Emanuele?Dainese Giacomo?Caprara Paolo?Cossu?Rocca Giovanni?Massarelli Tibor?Tot Carlo?Capella Vincenzo?Eusebi |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Human Morphology, Section of Pathology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy;(2) Section of Pathology M. Malpighi at Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;(3) Institute of Pathology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy;(4) Department of Pathology and Clinical Cytology, Central Hospital, Falun, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Androgens and androgen receptors (AR) are involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown
a significant association between the risk of breast cancer and androgens. However, the functional role and clinical value
of AR expression in breast carcinoma have still not been clearly defined. The present study was set up to investigate the
prevalence of ARs in a series of consecutive invasive breast carcinomas (IBCs) and to evaluate the patterns of AR phenotypes
in a series of selected invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs). Among the 250 consecutive IBCs (consisting of 212 ductal and 38
lobular neoplasms), AR immunoreactivity was observed in 151/250 (60.4%) cases, being expressed in 118/212 (56%) ductal and
33/38 (87%) lobular carcinomas (a statistically significant difference, χ2=11.82). AR expression was frequently associated with ER (65.2%, χ2=14.33) and PR positivity (66.9%, χ2=7.36). Most AR positive cases showed a low proliferative index (63.7%) and a low or intermediate histological grade (G1–G2,
63.9%). Among the 80 selected ILCs, AR expression was observed in 64/80 (80%) cases. Our results confirm that ARs are expressed
in most breast cancers. Moreover, we demonstrated that AR positivity is particularly marked in lobular neoplasms. In addition,
AR positive carcinomas are frequently characterized by a low or intermediate grade, a low proliferative index and ER and/or
PR co-expression. |
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Keywords: | Breast carcinoma Lobular carcinoma Androgen receptors |
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