Immunohistochemical c-erbB-2 protooncogene expression and nuclear DNA content in human mammary carcinoma in situ.
Immunohistochemical c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene expression and nuclear DNA distribution patterns were assessed in 119 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of human mammary carcinomas in situ (CIS). The series consisted of 107 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), 9 lobular carcinomas in situ, and 3 cases of Paget's disease of the nipple. Nuclear DNA distribution patterns were assessed by image cytometric analysis of histopathologically identified cell nuclei. Fifty-one of 107 (48%) DCIS were immunoreactive for c-erbB-2, whereas specific cell membrane staining was absent in lobular carcinomas in situ. The neoplastic cell nuclei of 46 CIS (39%) were of DNA diploid type, and 73 CIS (61%) contained aneuploid nuclear DNA. Among various histopathologic subtypes of DCIS, significant differences in c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity and nuclear ploidy were observed. DCIS of the comedo type most often were c-erbB-2 positive and exhibited aneuploid nuclear DNA histograms. DCIS of micropapillary type was the second most frequently reactive c-erbB-2 expression, and aneuploidy were less common in solid, cribriform, and papillary DCIS. The results of the current study indicate that immunohistochemical expression of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene product is closely related to the histopathologic subtype and the nuclear DNA content of mammary CIS. Examples of CIS that are c-erbB-2 immunoreactive and DNA aneuploid seem to have a significantly higher risk for the subsequent development of infiltrating mammary carcinoma.
Schimmelpenning
H
H
Department of Pathology Karolinska Institute and Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Eriksson
E T
ET
Pallis
L
L
Skoog
L
L
Cedermark
B
B
Auer
G U
GU
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011003:Ploidies; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human