title: Breast carcinomas occurring in young women (< 35 years) are different.
abstract: One hundred and sixty-three breast carcinomas occurring in women aged between 26 and 44 years were examined for pathological features, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status, proliferation as determined by Ki-67 labelling and the presence of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein, and were compared with a control group of carcinomas from women in the 50-67 years age group. Carcinomas occurring in women aged under 35 years had a significantly high incidence of being poorly differentiated and of having high proliferation rates. This group also had a significantly high incidence of p53 protein staining. Carcinomas in the under 30 years age group had a lower incidence of oestrogen and progesterone receptor positivity. No differences were found in c-erbB-2-positive staining between the groups. Infiltrating lobular carcinomas were only identified in women aged 40 years and over. There was a higher incidence of a family history in the 35-44 years age group (18%) than in the under 35 years age group (11%). Breast carcinomas occurring in women aged under 35 years are more aggressive. An important finding is the high incidence of p53 positivity, which may indicate genetic instability.
authors.affiliation: Breast Cancer Research Unit, University of Leicester, Glenfield Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dearing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor