Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 is a reliable proliferative marker in breast carcinoma.
This is a study aimed to examine the distribution pattern of a specific minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) in benign and malignant breast tissue. We also aim to correlate the frequency of expression of MCM2 with the degree of tumor differentiation. We used immunohistochemistry to examine the distribution and expression pattern of MCM2 on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of benign (n = 30) and malignant breast tissue (n = 70) (IDC 56, DCIS 4, ILC 2, nonductal 4, mixed type 4). We quantified MCM2 expression by calculating a labeling index, which represents the percentage of epithelial nuclei that stained positively. Immunoreactivity was heterogenous in all the 70 malignant cases examined. Epithelial cells in cycle are most frequent at the tumor periphery. Labeling index of MCM2 was greatest in grade 3 (poorly differentiated) and lowest in grade 1 tumors (well differentiated). Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 expression in breast cancer showed a positive association with histologic grade (P < .05). In all the benign breast tissue examined, no proliferating compartments could be characterized. Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 is a useful proliferative marker of breast carcinoma. The frequency of expression of MCM2 showed an inverse correlation with the degree of tumor differentiation.
Reena
Rahayu Md Zin
RM
Department of Pathology, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ayureena@hotmail.com
Mastura
Mokhtar
M
Siti-Aishah
Md Ali
MA
Munirah
Md Ali
MA
Norlia
Abdullah
A
Naqiyah
Ibrahim
I
Rohaizak
Muhamad
M
Sharifah
Noor Akmal
NA
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D064111:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C084859:MCM2 protein, human; D064111:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2