Basal-like subtype breast cancers in women older than 40 years of age.
Basal-like (BL) carcinoma, distinguished by the expression of keratins that are a characteristic of myoepithelial cells, is 1 of the 5 distinct subtypes of breast tumors identified by gene microarray technologies. BL cancers have been well described in women <40 years of age. However, little data exist about this carcinoma in older patients. Twenty-three BL breast cancer specimens from patients >40 years of age were evaluated. The study demonstrated that there is a subset of patients >40 years of age with breast cancers, manifesting features of BL carcinoma. There has been a significant increase in BL cancers among women >40 years of age having larger tumors and lymph node metastasis in comparison with younger women <40 years of age. This could be due to the tumor heterogeneity in BL cancers between the 2 age groups. BL cancer patients from all age groups require further investigation for BRCA-1, as well as gene microarray analysis to compare the gene expressions with those observed in the younger population.
Erşahin
Cağatay
C
Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. cersahin@lumc.edu
Chivukula
Mamatha
M
Bhargava
Rohit
R
Dabbs
David J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D007633:Keratins