A basal epithelial phenotype is more frequent in interval breast cancers compared with screen detected tumors.
Interval breast cancer reduce the effectiveness of mammography screening programs. We studied 95 interval cancers, diagnosed during 1996 to 2001 as part of the population-based Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program. These cases were matched on size (+/-2.0 mm) to 95 screen-detected breast cancers, and the tumors were compared by immunohistochemical methods using tissue microarrays. Patients with interval cancers were more likely to be younger [odds ratio (OR), 4.7; P = 0.0001], to have dense breasts (OR, 3.4; P = 0.004), and to have estrogen receptor-negative tumors (OR, 2.6, P = 0.01), and p53 expression was more frequent (OR, 4.0; P = 0.001). Notably, interval cancers were more likely to have a basal epithelial phenotype, in that expression of cytokeratin 5/6 (OR, 2.3; P = 0.04) and P-cadherin (OR, 2.5; P = 0.04) was more frequent in interval cases than in size-matched, screen-detected tumors. In a logistic regression model, p53 expression, age, and breast density were independent predictors of interval cancers. Our data suggest that breast cancers with a basal epithelial phenotype are more likely than nonbasal breast cancers to present between regular mammograms.
Collett
Karin
K
Vascular Biology Program, Karp Family Research Labs 12.125, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5737, USA.
Stefansson
Ingunn M
IM
Eide
Johan
J
Braaten
Audun
A
Wang
Hege
H
Eide
Geir Egil
GE
Thoresen
Steinar Ø
SØ
Foulkes
William D
WD
Akslen
Lars A
LA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015820:Cadherins; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D012307:Risk Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D007633:Keratins