Expression of EGFR family and steroid hormone receptors in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.
The expression of EGFR family and steroid hormone receptors was examined in a series of 40 cases of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded sections. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were used to classify the tumors according to the published criteria by Holland et al. (Holland R, Peterse JL, Millis RR, et al. Semin Diagn Pathol. 1994;1 1:167-180). Of the tumors 48% were immunoreactive for EGFR, 63% for c-erbB-2, 78% for c-erbB-3, 95% for c-erbB-4, 88% for estrogen receptor (ER) and 80% for progesterone receptor (PR). Statistically significant association between histological grade (differentiation) and c-erbB-2 protein expression was seen (p <.001). In addition, expression of c-erbB-4 protein was associated with c-erbB-2 (p=.004), c-erbB-3 (p=.058), ER (p=.002) and PR (p=.004). It is concluded that c-erbB-2 expression in DCIS is associated with high-grade pathological features, and a higher c-erbB-2 expression is seen in DCIS than in invasive breast carcinomas. A possible association between extensive expression of c-erbB-4 and steroid hormone receptors in proliferative and premalignant breast epithelial cells and the c-erbB-2 expression in DCIS and invasive breast carcinomas is discussed.
Suo
Z
Z
Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital and Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oslo. zhenhes@labmed.uio.no
Bjaamer
A
A
Ottestad
L
L
Nesland
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases