Lack of correlation between morphometric analysis and presence of microsatellite alterations in proliferative ductal lesions of the breast.
OBJECTIVE
To apply morphometric studies using an image analyzer to a previously reported group of proliferative duct lesions and to compare results to see if there was a correlation between nuclear size range and monoclonality.


METHODS
Fifteen proliferative lesions of the breast from 12 subjects who had no history of breast malignancy were retrieved from archival pathology specimens. Evidence of monoclonality was studied using a panel of polymerase chain reaction primers to examine microsatellite alterations on microdissected paraffin-embedded specimens. Variation in nuclear size was studied using an image analyzer.


RESULTS
Of six proliferative breast lesions with demonstrated genetic instability, three showed cytologic evidence of uniformity in nuclear size, a cytologic feature of malignancy. One of the six, which showed microsatellite alterations at three loci, demonstrated a wide range of nuclear size variation. Of the eight proliferative lesions that showed no genetic instability, three showed very uniform nuclear size, and five showed significant variations in nuclear size. One lesion, which fell into the "uncertain but probably genetic instable" category, showed diverse nuclear size ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that there is no correlation between monoclonality and monomorphic cell cytology of histologic proliferative breast lesions.
Zucca
M P
MP
Department of Pathology, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Larson
P S
PS
Rosenberg
C L
CL
de las Morenas
A
A
D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008846:Micromanipulation; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm