title: Increased alpha-B-crystallin expression in mammary metaplastic carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mammary metaplastic carcinoma is a rare breast carcinoma, and may present diagnostic difficulty. Alpha-B-crystallin has been recently reported to be expressed in basal-like and metaplastic carcinomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three metaplastic carcinomas, 44 conventional high-grade carcinomas and 28 mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasms as controls were assessed for their expression of αB-crystallin and conventional basal-like phenotypic markers CK5/6, CK14, p63, c-kit and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by immunohistochemistry. Alpha-B-crystallin staining was positive in 68% of the metaplastic carcinomas with cytoplasmic staining in all tumour cell components. CK5/6, CK14, p63, c-kit and EGFR stained 43%, 68%, 45%, 21% and 25% of the metaplastic carcinomas, respectively. Combining these markers, 84% of the metaplastic carcinomas expressed either αB-crystallin or CK14. In comparison, only 14% (six cases) of conventional high-grade carcinoma and 7% (two cases) of mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasm expressed αB-crystallin; all but one of these carcinomas were ER/PR/HER2 triple-negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using αB-crystallin for diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma gives a 68% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 74% positive predictive value, 85% negative predictive value and 78% accuracy. The sensitivity is enhanced to 84% with combinations of αB-crystallin/CK14. Alpha-B-crystallin may be used as an adjunct marker in the diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma.
authors: Department of Pathology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors: Siu-Ki
authors: SK
authors: Chan
authors: Philip C W
authors: PC
authors: Lui
authors: Puay-Hoon
authors: PH
authors: Tan
authors: Rin
authors: R
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Moriya
authors: Alex M C
authors: AM
authors: Yu
authors: Mu-Min
authors: MM
authors: Shao
authors: Thazin
authors: T
authors: Hliang
authors: Sio-In
authors: SI
authors: Wong
authors: Gary M
authors: GM
authors: Tse
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D018193:Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain