Expression of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene product and nuclear DNA content in benign and malignant human breast parenchyma.
The expression of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene product was investigated immunohistochemically in 474 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded human breast tissue samples. The series included 32 benign and 26 hyperplastic lesions, 32 carcinomas in situ and 384 invasive breast carcinomas, 107 of which were less than 1 cm in diameter. Cytometric DNA assessments were performed on histopathologically or cytodiagnostically identified cell nuclei, using image analysis. C-erbB-2 immunoreactivity was not seen in normal parenchyma or in benign and hyperplastic lesions. Mammary carcinomas in situ were more frequently immunoreactive (59%) than invasive neoplasms (23%). Invasive tumours more than 1 cm in diameter immunoreacted more often (26%) than small invasive carcinomas (16%). C-erbB-2 expression in regional lymph node metastases was the same as in the corresponding primary tumours. Significant differences were observed between the c-erbB-2 expression in DNA diploid and aneuploid lesions; for carcinomas in situ the figures were 40% and 72%, respectively. Invasive carcinomas of DNA diploid type rarely showed c-erb-B-2 expression, irrespective of tumour size and nodal status (7-11%). DNA aneuploid tumours were more frequently immunoreactive with increasing levels during progression (32-41%). Our data indicate that genetically stable invasive mammary tumours seem rarely to express the c-erbB-2 protein, even during progression, whereas genetically unstable invasive neoplasms frequently show c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity which increases during tumour progression.
Department of Tumour Pathology, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
H
H
Schimmelpenning
E T
ET
Eriksson
U G
UG
Falkmer
E
E
Azavedo
G
G
Svane
G U
GU
Auer
D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human