Immunophenotyping analysis in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: role of CD24 and CD44 isoforms expression.
We analyzed immunohistochemically the expression of CD24 and spliced variants of CD44v5 and v9 in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast that is a rather aggressive tumor characterized by alteration of cells adhesion molecules, early lymph node metastases and poor prognosis. We analyzed 31 high-grade IMPCs and compared their expression to 22 high grade (G3) invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast (IDCs). We found a higher expression of CD24 in high-grade IMPCs with a peculiar inverted apical localization, compared to IDCs, showing a strong cytoplasmic staining; normal breast tissue resulted completely negative. IMPCs showed reduced expression of CD44v5 and CD44v9 compared with IDCs, but without a statistical significant difference. This study demonstrated that IMPC represents a distinct entity of breast carcinoma with high expression of CD24 with a typical inverted apical membrane pattern and reduction of CD44 isoforms v5 and v9, compared to IDCs. These features could explain the high lymph-vascular invasion propensity and higher metastatic capability of these tumors and could be a useful tool for a future targeted therapy.
Department of Functional and Biomorphological Science, University Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. zosty@hotmail.com
Sara
S
Simonetti
Luigi
L
Terracciano
Inti
I
Zlobec
Ergin
E
Kilic
Loredana
L
Stasio
Maria
M
Quarto
Guido
G
Pettinato
Luigi
L
Insabato
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051927:CD24 Antigen; C497889:CD24 protein, human; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms