Fluorescence in situ hybridization assessment of chromosome 8 copy number in stage I and stage II infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast.
A total of 34 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, not otherwise specified (NOS), were selected, based on the clinical stage of the disease (17 cases stage I and 17 cases stage II). The histologic grade and the DNA content of each tumor were evaluated. Each specimen was analyzed and blinded cytogenetically for the frequency of chromosome 8 copy number using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Among the informative samples, 16 cases were disomic (47%) and 18 cases (53%) were trisomic. Of the 16 disomic tumors, 13 cases (81%) were classified clinically as stage I disease and 3 cases (19%) were stage II disease. Of the 18 trisomic tumors, 4 cases (22%) were stage I, and 14 cases (78%) were stage II. Microscopically, all trisomic tumors were of high histologic grade and aneuploid when analyzed by flow cytometry. We inferred from these data that a subset of infiltrating ductal carcinomas (NOS) is characterized by chromosome 8 trisomy. This chromosomal abnormality correlates well with other markers that predicate aggressive biological behavior of the tumor. While this observation needs to be further extended, the data suggest that chromosome 8 copy number may be used as a possible marker to identify a subgroup of patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma associated with a poor prognosis.
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Department of Pathology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics*; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014314:Trisomy / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015342:DNA Probes