c-erbB2 oncoprotein expression, gene amplification, and chromosome 17 aneusomy in apocrine adenosis of the breast.
Amplification of the c-erbB2 oncogene and numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 occur in human breast carcinomas. Apocrine adenosis (AA) of the breast has been shown occasionally to have c-erbB2 overexpression and a possible premalignant potential, but little is known about cellular level genetic alterations in AA of the breast. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a new approach to detect these. In this study, a series of AA was studied by immunohistochemistry for c-erbB2 protein expression and by FISH using dual colour DNA probes for the c-erbB2 gene and the centromeric region of chromosome 17. Cell membrane immunostaining was seen in 10/18 (55.6%) AA cases, but unequivocal c-erbB2 gene amplification or chromosome 17 aneusomy was not seen. The results of this study suggest that c-erbB2 overexpression without amplification may occur early in breast oncogenesis. Amplification and numerical chromosome aberrations may occur later in the pathogenesis of apocrine-derived breast carcinomas.
Selim
A G
AG
Department of Histopathology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK. a.a.selim@mds.qmw.ac.uk
El-Ayat
G
G
Wells
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics; D002503:Centromere; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000235:genetics*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics
D015342:DNA Probes; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB