title: Implication of laminin and collagen type IV expression in the progression of breast carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognostic variability in breast cancer patients prompted the authors to investigate specific biological markers for the identification of high-risk breast cancer groups. In the present study, attention was focused on the interaction between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix, an important requisite in the metastatic process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six primary breast carcinoma specimens obtained by mastectomy or quadrantectomy plus axillary dissection were examined with immunohistochemistry, for the determination of laminin, collagen type IV and hormone receptor expression and with static cytometry, for the determination of the DNA content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laminin and collagen type IV expression was observed on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells. Laminin and collagen type IV were present, respectively, in 85.4% and 73.8% of the cases which showed recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study have shown that high expression of laminin and collagen type IV may have a value in the prognosis of disease free survival and may be linked to other classical clinical, histological and biological parameters in the evaluation of breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale Regina Elena n.324, 00162, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Iorio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Midulla
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Di Cocco
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nofroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchione
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007797:Laminin; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D003094:Collagen