bromochloroacetic-acid and Adenofibroma

Nephrogenic adenofibroma is a novel kidney tumor of young people (mean age of presentation, 13 years), who present with polycythemia, hypertension, or hematuria, which resolve following nephrectomy. The typical nephrectomy specimen contains a solitary, nonencapsulated, vaguely circumscribed, irregularly shaped or spherical, firm mass with either tan, gray-white, or pale yellow coloration. Cysts are sometimes present within the tumor. The histologic appearance is distinctive and characterized by a marked proliferation of spindled mesenchymal cells resembling the classical type of congenital mesoblastic nephroma, encasing discrete nodules of embryonal epithelium similar to the hyperplastic nephrogenic rests (nephroblastomatosis) usually associated with Wilms' tumor. The mesenchymal component consists of a fascicular proliferation of tightly interlaced, uniform, benign-appearing spindled cells that immunostatin for vimentin and fibronectin, but not desmin or actin. The epithelial component consists of discrete islands of blastemal cells that are partially or fully differentiated toward tubular, tubulopapillary, or papillary structures. Psammoma bodies are plentiful. Embryonal epithelium immunostains for cytokeratin but not epithelial membrane antigen. The overall histologic appearance of the mesenchymal and epithelial components is benign, and preliminary clinical data suggest that the tumor has a benevolent course. Two cases, however, contained small, well-circumscribed papillary lesions near the renal pelvis that resembled low-grade collecting duct carcinoma. The clinical implications of the latter finding are unclear.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adolescent; Adult; Biopsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibronectins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Kidney; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Vimentin; Wilms Tumor

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adult; DNA-Binding Proteins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms; Transcription Factors

A 40-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-circumscribed multicystic mass measuring approximately 7 × 6 cm. The mass contained a solid lesion measuring 3 × 2 cm. Biopsy of a swollen cervical lymph node led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After initial chemotherapy for lymphoma, the multicystic mass was surgically resected. The tumor was composed of a multicystic lesion and a solid lesion. Histopathologic examination of the multicystic lesion revealed that the locules were lined by biliary epithelium, demonstrating various degrees of cytological atypia. The stroma was fibrous, and the tumor showed marked apocrine snouts. Part of the tumor showed papillary growth with strong cytological atypia. The solid lesion showed tubulocystic proliferation of tumor cells, with prominent apocrine snouts, embedded in dense and partially hyalinized fibrous stroma. The morphology of the solid part was quite similar to that of reported biliary adenofibroma. Despite lengthy discussion, an appropriate pathological diagnosis could not be found among the current classifications of biliary tumor. The tumor was finally diagnosed as unclassified multicystic biliary tumor with adenofibroma features.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adult; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Combined Modality Therapy; Cystadenocarcinoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Keratins; Lymph Nodes; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary

We report a case of asymptomatic mesoblastic nephroma in a 54-year-old woman. The tumor showed immunohistochemical reactions similar to developing nephrons. Electron microscopy showed immature tubules with numerous intracytoplasmic intermediate filaments. Recent studies support the concept of pathogenesis of the mesoblastic nephroma originating from collecting ducts. However, this case exhibited a complex pattern of antigenic expression not restricted to the collecting ducts, but including the glycoprotein CD24 and the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The following differential diagnoses will be discussed: benign mixed epithelial and stromal tumor, metanephric adenoma, and nephrogenic adenofibroma.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adenoma; Antigens, CD; Biomarkers, Tumor; CD24 Antigen; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Intermediate Filaments; Keratin-7; Keratins; Kidney Neoplasms; Membrane Glycoproteins; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Nephroma, Mesoblastic; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Eccrine syringofibroadenoma is an uncommon benign eccrine tumor, which was first described by Mascaro in 1963. It usually develops on the extremities of elderly persons. We report on a 74-year-old man who presented with a 2-year history of a slowly growing lesion on his face. A detailed histologic and immunohistochemical study was performed on the biopsy material. The tumor consisted of epidermal-derived anastomosing thin epithelial cords embedded in a fibrovascular stroma. The epithelial cords contained ductal and cystic structures lined by luminal cells, which were decorated by antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen, keratin K19, K8, and K18. Antibody to keratin K6 decorated the luminal walls of the acrosyringia. Antibodies to filaggrin decorated the superficial luminal structures. These results suggest dual acrosyringial and dermal duct differentiation in syringofibroadenoma.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Aged; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Filaggrin Proteins; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Intermediate Filament Proteins; Keratins; Male; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

An ovarian mucinous cystadenofibroma with peculiar neuroendocrine cell micronests is described in a 59-year-old Japanese woman. Aggregates of epithelial cells resembling microinvasive carcinoma cells were scattered throughout the adenofibromatous area. These micronests were composed of small uniform cells with argentaffin and argyrophil granules. Numerous small cells with neuroendocrine granules were also seen within mucinous glands. This is the first report of neuroendocrine micronests in an ovarian neoplasm, a finding that should be distinguished from microinvasion.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Chromogranin A; Chromogranins; Cystadenoma, Mucinous; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neurosecretory Systems; Ovarian Neoplasms

The differential expression of keratins in myoepithelial and epithelial cells of the breast makes immunohistochemical distinction of lesions an attractive possibility. High molecular weight keratin, 34BE12, is a monoclonal antibody that recognizes keratins 1, 5, 10, and 14. Because myoepithelial cells predominantly express keratins 5 and 14 and epithelial cells predominantly express keratins 8 and 18, it is natural to assume that 34BE12 may be a good marker of myoepithelial cells but not epithelial cells. However, recent studies of the breast have reported conflicting results. To determine the potential role of 34BE12 in the breast, we studied by immunohistochemistry 19 tubular carcinomas, 14 radial scars, two microglandular adenoses, and 9 sclerosing adenoses, using monoclonal antibodies to high molecular weight keratin, smooth muscle actin, type IV collagen, and antiserum to S100 protein. Actin was negative in all 19 (100%) tubular carcinomas, but it delineated the myoepithelial cells in 22 of 23 (95.6%) benign lesions of sclerosing adenosis and radial scars; it was also negative in microglandular adenosis. In comparison, epithelial cytoplasmic 34BE12 reactivity was seen in 3 of 19 (15.8%) tubular carcinomas, whereas myoepithelial cells failed to react in 4 of 23 (17.3%) benign conditions. Antiserum to S100 protein had a similar disadvantage of labeling both epithelial and myoepithelial cells with reactivity in 5 of 19 (26.3%) tubular carcinomas. In microglandular adenosis, the epithelial cells were strongly S100 protein positive and focally 34BE12 positive, but no staining was observed for actin. Type IV collagen staining outlined distinct basement membranes in microglandular adenosis and other benign conditions but not in tubular carcinomas. However, staining for type IV collagen requires enzymatic pretreatment and is difficult to perform, especially in sclerotic breast tissue. In conclusion, actin appears to be the most consistent and specific marker for distinguishing tubular carcinomas from other benign conditions, and type IV collagen has a contributory role, whereas 34BE12 is less valuable than in prostatic biopsies.

Topics: Actins; Adenocarcinoma; Adenofibroma; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Collagen; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; S100 Proteins

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were established in 20 clones of MAbs generated against cytokeratin fraction extracted from canine squamous cell carcinoma to investigate the expression of intermediate filament proteins during tumorigenesis. These MAbs were confirmed to react with purified cytokeratin by ELISA. One monoclonal antibody, MAb32 reacted all layers of epidermis except the cornified layer and mammary myoepithelial cells but not any epithelial cells. Another antibody named MAb24 exclusively reacted the basal monolayer of epidermis, the stratum germinativum. Any positive reactions with MAb24 were not detected in normal mammary gland. From the analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting, it was revealed that MAb24-recognizing cytokeratin subunit gave a molecular weight of 57 kilodalton and a isoelectric-pH value of pI5.1, indicating type I (acidic) cytokeratin. In intraductal papillomas developed in canine mammary glands, most tumor cells were positively stained with MAb32 in addition of myoepithelial cells while no positive reaction with MAb24 was seen. In ductal carcinomas, MAb24-positive cytokeratin was begun to express by tumor cells with positive reaction of MAb32 where these cells showed infiltrative growth into the stroma. We therefore proposed that 57 kilodalton-type I cytokeratin was a molecular marker for malignant transformation in canine mammary tumor and these antibodies could be useful tools to investigate the change of cytokeratin expression during tumorigenesis.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epithelium; Female; Immunoblotting; Keratins; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mammary Neoplasms, Animal; Papilloma, Intraductal

To determine vimentin expression in epithelial cells in benign breast disease and malignant breast tumours; to assess the value of vimentin expression as a prognostic indicator in breast carcinoma.. Frozen and formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded sections from 78 carcinomas, three phyllodes tumours, 19 fibroadenomas and 19 cases of fibrocystic disease were examined with a monoclonal antibody from the V9 clone. A correlation between vimentin expression and known prognostic indicators was sought in ductal carcinomas. The intracellular localisation of vimentin was examined in benign and malignant lesions.. Vimentin expression was identified on frozen section in the cells of ductal (53%), lobular (86%), and mucinous (33%) carcinomas and in the luminal epithelium of fibroadenomas (68%), cases of fibrocystic disease (47%), and a malignant phyllodes tumour. Formalin fixation reduced the percentage of carcinomas and cases of benign disease in which vimentin was detected. This reduction was more pronounced in fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease than in ductal carcinoma. Associations were identified between vimentin expression as detected on frozen section and tumour grade, size, number of lymph nodes affected, oestrogen receptor content and growth fraction. Only the association with grade was significant (p = 0.045). There was no significant correlation between any of these prognostic variables and vimentin expression on paraffin wax sections. There was no difference in the intracellular localisation of vimentin staining between benign and malignant lesions, or between low and high grade ductal carcinomas.. There is some loss of vimentin immunoreactivity after formalin fixation. Vimentin expression does not assist in differentiating between benign and malignant breast disease, but is correlated with tumour grade in ductal carcinoma.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Epithelium; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Formaldehyde; Frozen Sections; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Paraffin Embedding; Phyllodes Tumor; Prognosis; Vimentin

Expression of keratins (cytokeratins, CK) known to be suitable markers for different types of epithelial differentiation was analyzed in specimens of feline mammary tissue. A panel of specific anti-CK monoclonal antibodies (MAb) was used to determine CK distribution pattern in normal feline tissues (n = 3), and in benign (n = 18) and malignant (n = 20) feline mammary tumors. In selected tumors, the CK distribution pattern was also determined by biochemical methods. A MAb specific for alpha-smooth muscle actin was used to discriminate between myoepithelial cells and luminal epithelial cells. In normal mammary gland tissues, 6 MAb reacted exclusively, either with myoepithelial cells or with luminal epithelial cells. Luminal epithelial cells reacted with MAb specific for CK typical of simple epithelia, whereas myoepithelial cells reacted with MAb specific for CK in basal cells of stratified epithelia. A similar distribution of CK was detected in specimens from benign tumors, except that CK4 was not detected in normal mammary gland tissues and was detected in some ducts in specimens with adenosis. Almost all tumor cells in specimens from malignant tumors reacted with MAb specific for CK typical of simple epithelia. Concomitant expression of CK typical of stratified epithelia was detected in small or large subpopulations of tumor cells in 70% of carcinomas. Cytokeratins typical of basal cell layers and typical for suprabasal layers of inner stratified epithelia were detected. Cytokeratins typical of stratified epithelia were always found in areas of squamous metaplasia, but also were found in adenocarcinomal cells surrounding these areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adenofibroma; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma; Cat Diseases; Cats; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Keratins; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mammary Neoplasms, Animal; Metaplasia; Precancerous Conditions

This study on the different types of epithelial hyperplasia in fibrocystic disease was inspired by the observation of myoepithelial (basocellular) hyperplasia identified by strong expression of S100 protein and a weak reaction with antibodies against cytokeratin (KL1) in cells forming solid and acinar buds. The cells do not contain immunohistochemically detectable actin or desmin. Glandular transformation and proliferation give rise to basocellular circumductal adenosis. Normal breast tissue, 51 cases of fibrocystic disease with mild, florid and atypical hyperplasias, 7 fibroadenomas and 20 cases of carcinoma in situ were studied and a semiquantitative analysis revealed basal buds and adenosis in less than 40% of cases of mild hyperplasia and up to 73% in florid hyperplasia. Epitheliosis is characterized by a heterogeneous cell pattern with cells positive for S100 protein in 30-60%, but in small ducts up to 100% with an immediate connection to the basal cell layer were positive. Carcinoma in situ contained very rare tumour cells positive for S100 protein. The cells expressing S100 protein in terminal ducts, in adenosis and epitheliosis showed only some of the characteristics of myoepithelial cells, since they lack immunoreactivity with antibodies against actin. These basal clear cells are interpreted as transitional or indeterminate cells with features of myoepithelial precursor cells, but with the ability to develop basocellular nodular and glandular hyperplasia in the ductulo-lobular units in cases of adenosis and juvenile fibroadenoma.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Hyperplasia; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Myoepithelioma; S100 Proteins

Immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) identifies a minor subpopulation of immunoreactive myoepithelial cells in the normal resting human breast. The GFAP-immunoreactive cells also express a panel of myoepithelial cell markers, including cytokeratin 14 (CK 14), vimentin, smooth-muscle-specific actin isoforms, nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) and common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CALLA). The percentage of GFAP-immunoreactive myoepithelial cells is greatly increased in various neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of the breast, being highest in adenomyoepitheliomas. Furthermore, in all the instances of fibroadenoma, phyllodes tumour, epitheliosis and gynaecomastia, a variable number of epithelial cells also acquires immunoreactivity for GFAP, vimentin, CK 14, NGFR and, to a lesser extent, for CALLA. Conversely, GFAP immunoreactivity has never been encountered in the malignant cells of the different types of breast carcinoma. These findings suggest that the expression of GFAP might be a (possibly transient) feature of proliferating epithelial and myoepithelial cells in breast diseases other than carcinomas.

Topics: Actins; Adenofibroma; Antibodies; Antigens, Differentiation; Antigens, Neoplasm; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Gynecomastia; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Male; Neprilysin; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; Vimentin

The authors studied by immunohistochemistry the intermediate filament (IF) protein profile of 66 frozen samples of breast tissue, including normal parenchyma, all variants of fibrocystic disease (FCD), fibroadenomas, cystosarcoma phylloides, and ductal and lobular carcinomas. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to cytokeratins included MAb KA 1, which binds to polypeptide 5 in a complex with polypeptide 14 and recognizes preferentially myoepithelial cells; MAb KA4, which binds to polypeptides 14, 15, 16 and 19; individual MAbs to polypeptides 7, 13, and 16, 17, 18, and 19, and the MAb mixture AE1/AE3. The authors also applied three MAbs to vimentin (Vim), and three MAbs to glial filament protein (GFP). Selected samples were studied by double-label immunofluorescence microscopy and by staining sequential sections with some of the said MAbs, an MAb to alpha-smooth muscle actin, and well-characterized polyclonal antibodies for the possible coexpression of diverse types of cytoskeletal proteins. Gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis also were performed. All samples reacted for cytokeratins with MAbs AE1/AE3, although the reaction did not involve all cells. Monoclonal antibody KA4 stained preferentially the luminal-secretory cells in the normal breast and in FCD, whereas it stained the vast majority of cells in all carcinomas. Monoclonal antibody KA1 stained preferentially the basal-myoepithelial cells of the normal breast and FCD while staining tumor cell subpopulations in 4 of 31 carcinomas. Vimentin-positive cells were found in 8 of 12 normal breasts and in 12 of 20 FCD; in most cases, Vim-reactive cells appeared to be myoepithelial, but occasional luminal cells were also stained. Variable subpopulations of Vim-positive cells were noted in 9 of 20 ductal and in 1 of 7 lobular carcinomas. Glial filament protein-reactive cells were found in normal breast lobules and ducts and in 15 of 20 cases of FCD; with rare exceptions, GFP-reactivity was restricted to basally located, myoepithelial-appearing cells. Occasional GFP-reactive cells were found in 3 of 31 carcinomas. Evaluation of sequential sections and double-label immunofluorescence microscopy showed the coexpression of certain cytokeratins (possibly including polypeptides 14 and 17) with vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin together with GFP in some myoepithelial cells. The presence of GFP in myoepithelial cells was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Our results indicate that coexpression

Topics: Adenofibroma; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Phyllodes Tumor; Reference Values; Vimentin

An improved immunohistochemical determination of the cytokeratin profiles of epithelia and their neoplasms is possible using monoclonal antibodies that will either identify all 19 cytokeratins (AE1/3) or delineate specific subsets (35 beta H11, 34 beta E12, 34 beta B4 and Cam 5.2). Ovarian common "epithelial" tumors (CET) contain cytokeratin filaments. To determine the nature and differences in the cytokeratin profiles of ovarian CET, eight benign Brenner tumors, four serous cystadenofibromas, 28 mucinous tumors, 27 serous tumors and six endometrioid, five clear cell and five undifferentiated carcinomas, as well as nine normal ovaries were immunostained with the above five antibodies. AE1/3 staining was predominant, while Cam 5.2 and 35 beta H11 displayed the most frequent staining thereafter. Statistically significant staining differences were found between a number of tumor groups using the antibodies 35 beta H11, 34 beta E12 and Cam 5.2. In this study, all ovarian CET, except the benign Brenner tumors, displayed a predominantly low molecular weight cytokeratin profile. The same profile in the normal surface epithelium lends credence to the belief that these tumors are derived from this epithelium. A significant staining difference between some of the tumor types using some of the antibodies suggests a possible ancillary, diagnostic role of cytokeratin profiling in situations where exact tumor typing is difficult.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Adenofibroma; Adenoma; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Brenner Tumor; Carcinoma; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Ovarian Neoplasms

We studied one case of atypical polypoid adenomyoma of the uerus immunohistochemically using antisera against keratins, vinentin, S-100 protein, desmin and actin. The stromal cells were reactive with anti-actin and antidesmin antibodies suggesting a muscular phenotype and confirming previous ultrastructural data. Immunohistochemical investigations have proved to be useful in differential diagnosis of APA with invasive adenocarcinoma, adenosarcoma and adenofibroma of the endometrium.

Topics: Actins; Adenocarcinoma; Adenofibroma; Desmin; Diagnosis, Differential; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Middle Aged; S100 Proteins; Uterine Neoplasms; Vimentin

The immunohistochemical reactivity on frozen sections of diverse benign and malignant epithelial proliferations of human breast tissue from 156 patients was examined using antibodies to different cytokeratins. Antibodies recognizing cytokeratins 18 and 19 reacted with luminal epithelial cells but not with myoepithelial cells of normal mammary gland, cystic disease, adenosis, papilloma, and fibroadenoma or with a subpopulation of proliferating cells in sclerosing adenosis and epitheliosis. These antibodies reacted with the tumor cells of all in situ and invasive carcinomas. KA1 antibody, which by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting was shown to bind preferentially to cytokeratin 14 in a complex with cytokeratin 5, reacted with the nonproliferating myoepithelium of normal gland, cystic disease, adenosis, papilloma, fibroadenoma, and in situ carcinoma; it also reacted with a subpopulation of proliferating cells in sclerosing adenosis and epitheliosis (papillomatosis) but was negative with the tumor cells of all preinvasive and most invasive carcinomas. In adenotic and epitheliotic proliferations, groups of cells were identified that reacted strongly with KA1 antibody in addition to antibodies to cytokeratins 18 and 19. The data are discussed with respect to epithelial cell heterogeneity in the breast. We show that by using such antibodies, benign epithelial proliferations are clearly distinguished from carcinomas.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Carcinoma, Papillary; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Middle Aged; Papilloma

Eccrine syringofibroadenoma is a rare tumor considered to originate from the excretory portion of the eccrine sweat gland. A new case of this lesion, whose acrosyringeal differentiation was underlined by an immunohistological study using antibodies to keratin and involucrin, is reported herein.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Keratins; Male; Protein Precursors; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

Two monoclonal antikeratin antibodies, AE1 and AE3, were used in indirect immunocytochemistry to examine keratin expression in normal, benign proliferative, and malignant human breast epithelium. Both antibodies reacted strongly with most luminal cells in ducts and acini of normal gland. While AE1 did not stain myoepithelium, AE3 recognized myoepithelial cells of ducts but not acini, implying a cytoskeletal difference between the myoepithelium of these two components. Moreover, the antibodies reacted differently with the myoepithelium of intracanalicular as compared with pericanalicular types of fibroadenomas. Tumour cells of infiltrating ductal carcinomas with a prominent intraductal component stained more homogeneously with AE1 and AE3 than those without intraductal growth. The results provide evidence for two phenotypes of myoepithelial cells and for the presence of cryptic keratin epitopes in human breast epithelial cells. The finding that neither AE1 nor AE3 is a universal detector of these cells has important clinical and experimental implications.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Epithelium; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins

Antibodies to different intermediate filament proteins can be used to distinguish cells of epithelial, mesenchymal, muscle, glial and neuronal origin. Antibodies to prekeratin which characterize cells of epithelial origin, and antibodies to vimentin which recognize cells of mesenchymal origin have been used to study twenty cases of breast carcinoma (sixteen infiltrating ductal carcinomas and four infiltrating intraductal carcinomas), two cases of cystic breast disease, two fibroadenomas and one case of benign cystosarcoma phylloides. The prekeratin and vimentin were detected using specific antibodies to these proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy using alcohol fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. In eighteen out of the twenty carcinomas the tumor cells were strongly and specifically stained by antibodies to prekeratin. DIfferent tumors gave different patterns of prekeratin staining. In contrast, when the same specimens were tested with the vimentin antibody, the tumor cells were unstained, and instead only the usual strong staining to fibroblasts and blood vessels in the stroma was observed. In cystic breast disease, fibroadenomas, and benign cystosarcoma phylloides, cells of epithelial origin were strongly stained by the prekeratin but not by the vimentin antibody.

Topics: Adenofibroma; Breast Neoplasms; Cytoskeleton; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Keratins; Microscopy, Electron; Phyllodes Tumor