Expression of CYP4A11 and CYP4A22 in triple negative breast carcinoma and its relation to M2 tumor-associated macrophages / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate the expression of CYP4 A11 and CYP4 A22 in triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) and its relationship with clinicopathological features and M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Methods 72 cases of TNBC with clinical and pathological data were collected. The expression of CYP4 A11 and CYP4 A22 in the carcinoma cells and the expression of CD68 and CD163 of the TAMs were detected by immunohistochemically and analyzed with image processing software. The relationship between the expressions of CYP4 A11 and CYP4 A22 with clinicopathologic features and its correlation of the M2 state of TAMs was studied. Results Both the immunohistochemically staining scores of CYP4 A11 and CYP4 A22 were higher in cancer tissues than that in breast tissues (P<0.001, P<0.001). The higher expression of CYP4 A11 was associated with tumor diameter increase (P<0.001), lymph node metastasis (P<0.001), higher clinical stage (P<0.001) and higher Ki-67 index (P=0.011). Both the positive rates of CD68 and CD163 in the high expression group of CYP4 A11 were higher than those in the low expression group of CYP4 A11 (P=0.021, P<0.001). The higher expression of CYP4 A22 was associated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.001), higher clinical stage (P=0.006), higher recurrence rate (P<0.001), and higher Ki-67 index (P=0.040).The positive rates of CD163 in the high expression group of CYP4 A22 was higher than that in the low expression group of CYP4 A22 (P<0.001). Conclusion Both the expression of CYP4 A11 and CYP4 A22 may be associated with M2 polarization state of TAMs, high proliferative activity and lymph node metastasis in the TNBC.

Relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition and basal cell-like phenotype in breast cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition and basal cell-like phenotype breast cancer (BLBC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and eighty two cases of breast cancers including basal cell-like, luminal A, luminal B and Her-2 subtypes were collected from 458 cases of invasive breast cancers based on their immunophenotypes. They were then stained immunohistochemically with FOXC-2, vimentin, Syndecan-1 and E-cadherin. The relationship of these markers with the basal cell-like phenotype of breast cancer was studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 41 BLBC cases, FOXC-2, vimentin and Syndecan-1 were positive in 14 cases (34.1%), 18 cases (43.9%) and 36 cases (87.7%) respectively; E-cadherin expression was reduced in 26 cases (63.4%). The positive rates of FOXC-2 and vimentin were higher in BLBC than in other subtypes of breast cancer (P < 0.01). The expression of E-cadherin was the lowest among the 4 subtypes of breast cancers (P < 0.01). Syndecan-1 was positive in the stromal cells adjacent to cancer cells in 17 cases (41.5%) BLBC and the expression was higher than that in other subtypes (P = 0.007). There existed a correlation between FOXC-2 and vimentin expression in BLBC (r = 0.607, P < 0.01). The rates of positive lymph nodes in FOXC-2 and vimentin positive BLBC cases were 71.4% and 66.7% respectively, and both were higher than those of FOXC-2 and vimentin negative BLBC cases (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is probably related to the basal cell-like phenotype of breast cancers, and this may be one of the reasons accounting for the different biological behavior of BLBC from other subtypes of breast cancer.</p>

Clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer with basal-like immunophenotype / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of basal-like immunophenotype breast cancer (BLBC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>458 cases of female infiltrative breast cancer were studied using immunohistochemical staining with an antibody panel of ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67, CK5/6, CK14 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and were classified basing on the immunophenotypes. The clinicopathologic characteristics were compared with other immunophenotypes of breast cancer. 228 of 458 cases of breast cancer were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>46 cases of BLBC were screened out among the 458 breast cancers. And histological features of BLBC were analysed including the larger diameter of cancer foci (average 3.3 cm), appearance of squeezing phenomenon of neighboring cell borders (58.7%, 27/46), geography-like distribution of necrosis (52.2%, 24/46), central zone fibrosis (30.4%, 14/46) and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration at the margin and stroma (63.0%, 29/46). There were nuclear pleomorphism with numerous mitoses. The cancer cells were closely arranged, forming irregular solid architectures. There was a high expression (> 25%) of Ki-67 (43.5%, 20/46). CK5/6, CK14 and EGFR were positive in 58.7% (27/46), 43.5% (20/46) and 65.2% (30/46) respectively. 3-year survival rate of BLBC was 66.9%, lower than the luminal A breast cancer and similar to HER2 over-expression breast cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The proportion of BLBC in the group of breast cancers is 10%. BLBC has its distinct histological and cytological features. Currently, it is still necessary to depend on immunophenotyping in making a BLBC diagnosis. BLBC is the one of breast cancer subtypes with the poorest prognosis.</p>