Apolipoprotein D expression in metastasic lymph nodes of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Apolipoprotein D is a glycoprotein of the human plasma whose functional role remains unclear. On the other hand, this protein is also produced by breast carcinomas and is positively associated with a favorable outcome of patients. However, none study has focused on metastasic lesions.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze apolipoprotein D expression in breast cancer patients and their synchronous metastasic axillary lymph nodes.


METHODS
We analyzed by immunohistochemical assay both, the tumoral expression of apolipoprotein D in primary tumors and in their synchronous metastasic axillary lymph nodes of 30 node-positive breast cancer patients.


RESULTS
Of the primary tumors, 28 (93.3%) showed a positive immunostaining for apolipoprotein D, although there was wide variability immunostaining values. On the other hand, 16 (53.3%) patients showed a positive immunostaining for the protein in their tumoral lymph nodes. In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between the tumoral expression of apolipoprotein D in primary tumors and metastasic lymph nodes (P < 0.05). However, only immunostaining values of the protein in primary tumors achieve statistical signification (P < 0.05) as prognostic factor of favorable evolution to predict overall survival from patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Apolipoprotein D is also expressed in metastasic lymph nodes of breast carcinomas, but with a different pattern of immunostaining and less clinical significance than in primary tumors.
Lamelas
M L
ML
Servicio de Ginecología, Hospital de Jove de Gijón, Spain.
Vázquez
J
J
Enguita
M I
MI
Rodríguez
J C
JC
González
L O
LO
Merino
A M
AM
Vizoso
F
F
D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D001365:Axilla; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D053399:Apolipoproteins D; D015415:Biomarkers