Expression of GCDFP-15 and AR decreases in larger or node-positive apocrine carcinomas of the breast.
OBJECTIVE
Apocrine carcinoma of the breast is typically, though not always, positive for gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15). In order to clarify the clinical significance of GCDFP-15 in apocrine carcinomas, GCDFP-15 expression was examined in apocrine carcinomas of different stages and compared with clinicopathological factors. Apocrine lesions reportedly exhibit an unusual immunohistochemical status, expressing androgen receptors (AR) instead of oestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), or bcl-2. Their expression was also examined.


RESULTS
Fifty-two apocrine carcinomas were examined immunohistochemically. Thirty-nine (75%) and 29 (56%) were positive for GCDFP-15 and AR, respectively. GCDFP-15 positivity was significantly lower in infiltrating carcinomas than intraductal carcinomas (P = 0.0111). In infiltrating carcinomas, GCDFP-15 positivity was significantly low in tumours > or = 15 mm (P = 0.0005) and node-positive tumours (P = 0.0004). Similar phenomena were observed for AR. Rare cases were positive for ER (3.8%), PR (5.8%), and bcl-2 (1.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
GCDFP-15 positivity is transient and should not be considered a definitive marker of apocrine carcinomas. Cases which have apocrine features but lack GCDFP-15 expression should rather be considered as advanced apocrine carcinomas. ER/PR/bcl-2 negativity will sometimes be helpful to confirm the diagnosis of apocrine carcinoma, because it is more consistent than GCDFP-15/AR positivity.
Honma
N
N
Human Tissue Research Group, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakaecho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan. nhonma@tmig.or.jp
Takubo
K
K
Akiyama
F
F
Sawabe
M
M
Arai
T
T
Younes
M
M
Kasumi
F
F
Sakamoto
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C488892:PIP protein, human