title: Lobular neoplasia of the breast revisited with emphasis on the role of E-cadherin immunohistochemistry.
abstract: Lobular neoplasia (LN) is a term that encompasses both lobular carcinoma in situ and atypical lobular hyperplasia. These lesions have been shown to constitute both risk indicators and nonobligate precursors of invasive breast cancer, they are relatively uncommon, and are most often identified in specimens taken for other reasons. Their incidence has increased in the last 2 decades, and novel variants, including a pleomorphic type, have been described. Loss of E-cadherin expression is recognized as a hallmark diagnostic feature of LN and invasive lobular carcinomas, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis using anti-E-cadherin antibodies has been proven to be a useful method to differentiate between lobular and ductal lesions. The frequent use of E-cadherin IHC analysis in routine diagnostic histopathology, however, has resulted in confusion with regard to the actual value of IHC with antibodies against E-cadherin and other proteins of the cadherin-catenin complex. This review provides an update on recent clinicopathologic and molecular data on LN and invasive lobular carcinoma and a discussion about the use and limitations of IHC with E-cadherin in diagnostic breast pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Magee-Women's Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dabbs
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schnitt
authors.forename: Felipe C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weigelt
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Baehner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eusebi
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: Sunil R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lakhani
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rakha
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Fernando C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Puay-Hoon
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent-Salomon
authors.forename: Ian O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badve
authors.forename: Jorge S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Reis-Filho
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051177:Catenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins