title: Correlative study on neuro-endocrine differentiation and presence of somatostatin receptors in breast carcinomas.
abstract: To correlate the expression of neuro-endocrine (NE) markers with the presence of somatostatin receptors (SSR) in human breast cancer, a series of 100 cases was stained with the Grimelius silver procedure, by immunocytochemistry with specific NE markers (i.e., chromogranin A and B and synaptophysin) and by autoradiography for SSR. Nine cases were positive for at least one NE marker, while 4 cases were positive for all of them. SSR were detected in 17 cases, either with low (10 cases) or with high receptor density (7 cases). A highly significant correlation was established between the expression of NE markers and high SSR density. Our findings are additional evidence of the existence of a group of breast cancers showing morphological and cytochemical similarity with neuro-endocrine tumors present in other organs. The identification of this type of breast cancer is of biological and potential therapeutic interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macrí
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bussolati
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reubi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000032:analysis*; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D016708:Synaptophysin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002864:Chromogranins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D016708:Synaptophysin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase