Role of the expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor kit in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast: a review

ABSTRACT

Given the necessity to research new variables that identify greater disease-free survival, through appropriate therapeutic intervention among patients of the same treatment subgroup, it is necessary to find promising candidates for prognostic factors in breast cancer. Among the tyrosine kinase receptors, we can mention the membrane receptor termed c-KIT, overexpressed in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Normal ductal breast cells and benign breast tissue highly express the c-KIT protein, while an accentuated reduction of same was observed in samples of breast cancer, varying from non-metastatic primary carcinomas to carcinomas with distant metastasis. The study analyses the literature specific to c-KIT protein expression in breast tumors, indicating that the immunohistochemical expression of c-KIT is mainly negative in stroma of primary breast neoplasms or not specifically cited, and with controversial results regarding the epithelial component. Subsequent studies of mutations of the proto-oncogene c-KIT and correlation with other prognostic factors and survival are necessary to reveal the exact action mechanism of this molecule in breast cancer.