title: Expression of c-kit in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (BACC) is a biologically distinct tumor with morphologic mimickers, which might make accurate classification problematic. Because c-kit expression has been reported in adenoid cystic carcinoma of various anatomic sites, we evaluated BACC for c-kit by immunohistochemical analysis, comparing the findings to similarly stained mimickers. Tested cases included 6 BACCs, 15 low-grade infiltrating ductal carcinomas (LGIDCs) chosen as potential mimickers, and 15 head-neck adenoid cystic carcinomas (HNACCs). All BACCs showed plasma membranous and cytoplasmic staining equal to or greater than that of adjacent benign epithelium. Five BACCs (83%) expressed c-kit in more than 50% of tumor cells. Only 2 of 15 LGIDCs expressed low-intensity, focal c-kit staining. Of the 15 HNACCs, 10 (67%) expressed c-kit. Hormone receptors were consistently negative in BACCs. All BACCs expressed c-kit, whereas LGIDCs infrequently expressed low-intensity c-kit. Immunohistochemical evaluation for c-kit might aid in accurately classifying carcinomas with histologic features overlapping adenoid cystic carcinoma and LGIDC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.
authors.forename: Giovanna M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Crisi
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Makari-Judson
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Goulart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit