Comparative genomic hybridization of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast-evidence of multiple genetic pathways.
There is strong evidence that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a precursor lesion of invasive breast cancer. In order to analyse specific chromosomal alterations of DCIS, 38 paraffin-embedded specimens of DCIS and six associated invasive carcinomas were examined by means of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Losses of 16q material were seen almost exclusively in well- and intermediately-differentiated DCIS. These two subgroups differed in the average number of genetic imbalances, 2.5 and 5.5 respectively. Additionally, a higher frequency of gains of 1q and losses of 11q material was seen in intermediately-differentiated in contrast to well-differentiated DCIS. Poorly-differentiated DCIS displayed a higher frequency of amplifications (17q12, 11q13) and a higher average rate of genetic imbalances (7.1). Analysis of adjacent invasive breast carcinoma revealed a genetic pattern almost identical to the one seen in the DCIS counterpart. These data characterize DCIS as a genetically far-advanced, heterogeneous lesion and as a direct precursor of invasive breast cancer.
Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Münster, Germany.
H
H
Buerger
F
F
Otterbach
R
R
Simon
C
C
Poremba
R
R
Diallo
T
T
Decker
L
L
Riethdorf
C
C
Brinkschmidt
B
B
Dockhorn-Dworniczak
W
W
Boecker
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization