title: DNA ploidy and vimentin expression in primary breast cancer.
abstract: The DNA content of 50 breast cancers of varying tumour type, grade and stage was measured using static image cytometry, and correlated with vimentin expression in the tumour cells. A tendency to increased vimentin expression and aneuploidy was observed in high grade and late stage tumours. A statistically significant difference was observed in DNA index and ploidy balance between grade 1 and grades 2 and 3 carcinomas (P < 0.05) and between grade I and stage II carcinomas (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the expression of vimentin between grades 1, 2, 3 (P < 0.001), and stages I, II, and III ductal carcinomas (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the proliferation index and the degree of hyperploidy (P > 0.05) Clonal heterogeneity was observed in 25% of breast carcinomas, and was associated with increased vimentin expression. These changes may be indicative of genomic alteration and tumour aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cytology and Cytogenetics, Athens University, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ioakim-Liossi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karakitsos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Markopoulos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aroni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gogas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kyrkou
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011003:Ploidies; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D014746:Vimentin