The relationship between breast cancer molecular subtypes and mast cell populations in tumor microenvironment.
Mast cells (MCs) are a part of the innate immune system. The MC functions toward cancer are partially based on the release of chymase and tryptase. However, the MC effect on breast cancer is controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of MCs in breast cancer tumors of different molecular subtypes and their relationships with other pathological prognostic factors. Tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cell densities were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 108 primary invasive breast cancer tissue samples. Positive cells were counted within the tumor bed and at the invasive margin. For all analyzed MC subpopulations, we observed statistically significant differences between individual molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The significantly higher numbers of intratumoral chymase- and tryptase-positive mast cells were observed in luminal A and luminal B tumors compared to triple-negative and HER2+ non-luminal lesions. A denser MC infiltration was associated with lower tumor grade, higher ER and PR expression, lower proliferation rate as well as the lack of HER2 overexpression. The results obtained in our study indicate a possible association of chymase- and tryptase-positive MCs with more favorable cancer immunophenotype and with beneficial prognostic indicators in breast cancer.
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Grzegórzecka 16, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
Anna
A
Glajcar
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Grzegórzecka 16, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
Joanna
J
Szpor
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Grzegórzecka 16, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Pacek
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Katarzyna Ewa
KE
Tyrak
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Grzegórzecka 16, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
Florence
F
Chan
Department of Oncology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Joanna
J
Streb
Department of General, Oncological, and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Diana
D
Hodorowicz-Zaniewska
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Grzegórzecka 16, 31-531, Kraków, Poland. k.okon@uj.edu.pl.
Krzysztof
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1921-5007
K
Okoń
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D053818:Chymases / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053802:Tryptases / Q000032:analysis; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053818:Chymases; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D053802:Tryptases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human
Breast cancer; Mast cells; Molecular classification