lactoferrin and Carcinoma--Intraductal--Noninfiltrating

A total of 27 cases of salivary gland adenocarcinomas were studied from clinicopathological view point. Adenocarcinomas of the salivary gland were microscopically subclassified into 3 groups according to Luna's classification: Salivary duct carcinomas histologically resembled the ductal carcinoma of the breast, displayed nuclear atypia and had poorer prognosis than the other subclasses of salivary gland adenocarcinomas. Terminal duct carcinomas lacked in nuclear atypia and displayed a variety of growth patterns, including papillary, cribriform, tubular, and solid. Some terminal duct carcinomas showed prominent mucin-production. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas had clear cytoplasms and exuberant glycogen. In addition to the clinicopathological study, nuclear areas of the tumor cells were measured in each of the 27 salivary gland adenocarcinomas, and mean nuclear area (MMA) and standard deviation (SD) were calculated. The group with more than 50 microns 2 of MNA had poorer prognosis than the group with 50 microns 2 or less of MNA, and the group with more than 13 microns 2 of SD had poorer prognosis than the group with 13 microns 2 or less of SD. Finally, immunohistochemical study was performed against various markers including keratin, epithelial membrane antigen, lactoferrin, S-100 protein, CEA, etc., using the Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Lactoferrin was present in most of the salivary duct carcinomas, on the other hand, S-100 protein was detected in all of the five cases of the terminal duct carcinoma investigated. But immunohistochemical study is not especially useful in distinguishing subclasses of salivary gland adenocarcinomas or investigating the origin of tumor cells.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Cell Nucleus; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; S100 Proteins; Salivary Gland Neoplasms

136 breast carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically for alpha-lactalbumin (ALA), lactoferrin (Lfr), human milk fat globule membrane antigen (HMFG-2), transferrin receptor (TrfR), Ki-67 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The relationships of pathologic features and steroid receptor status previously shown to be of prognostic significance and the immunohistochemical parameters were examined. It was found that estrogen receptor (ER) was inverse related to TrfR, Ki-67 and EGFR whereas progesterone receptor (PgR) was inverse correlated to Ki-67 solely. Tumor grading revealed significant correlations between TrfR, Ki-67 and HMFG-2 (inverse correlation). Tumor diameter showed correlation between Ki-67 solely. Moreover there were significant relationships between lymphoid infiltration and TrfR, Ki-67 and HMFG-2 (inverse correlation). The comparison of the immunohistochemical parameters showed correlations between Ki-67 and TrfR, Ki-67 and HMFG-2 (inverse correlation) as well as HMFG-2 and ALA. Therefore it is suggested that functional and tumor kinetic properties determined by HMFG-2, Ki-67 and TrfR may be an additional indicator with prognostic significance. On the other hand immunoreactivities of ALA in conjunction with HMFG-2 possibly indicates a subpopulation of breast carcinomas that may have to be investigated further. Moreover these results showed that lymphoid infiltration was correlated with Ki-67 reactivity as well as TrfR expression.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Lactalbumin; Lactoferrin; Membrane Glycoproteins; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Prognosis; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Transferrin

Five cases of lipid-rich carcinomas of the breast were investigated ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically for alpha-lactalbumin (ALA), lactoferrin (Lfr) and human milk fat globule membrane antigen (HMFG-2). Staining for ALA and Lfr showed intensive reaction on nearly all of the tumour cells whereas immunoreaction for HMFG-2 revealed positivity in single cells. All tumours were negative for steroid receptor content. Ultrastructurally the tumour cells showed numerous intracytoplasmic non-membrane bound lipid droplets which were often found within autophagocytic vacuoles. Neither rough endoplasmic reticulum nor Golgi complexes showed any sign of lipid synthesis. Extrusion of lipid droplets and extracellular lipid deposition was not observed. In conclusion, our findings do not justify the consideration of lipid-rich carcinoma of the breast as a clearly defined group of tumours with specific secretory activity. Therefore, the term lipid-rich carcinoma should be used in preference to lipid-secreting, unless there is evidence of active lipid secretion.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, Neoplasm; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactalbumin; Lactoferrin; Lipids; Membrane Glycoproteins; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Mucin-1

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lactalbumin; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Membrane Proteins; Mucin-1; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Prognosis

An immunoperoxidase staining technique was used for detecting three major iron binding proteins (ferritin, transferrin and lactoferrin) in 40 breast carcinoma cases and six benign breast proliferative lesions. Ferritin staining was detected mainly in connectival stroma and in histiocytes surrounding neoplastic cells. Few and faint ferritin positivities were also detected in neoplastic cells of 20 carcinoma cases. Transferrin was found inconsistently in myoepithelial cells surrounding normal ductules, or around neoplastic ducts of ductal in situ carcinoma. In eight carcinoma cases, transferrin staining was also positive in neoplastic cells. Lactoferrin was detected only in normal breast epithelial cells and in benign breast proliferative lesions. These immunohistochemical findings may suggest that raised serum ferritin concentrations in breast carcinoma patients might be attributed to stromal reaction rather than to tumour synthesis. Transferrin staining of neoplastic cells in these carcinoma cases appears to be very intriguing, particularly since transferrin is considered an obligate requirement for growing cells, and transferrin receptors have been demonstrated only in dividing cells. On the basis of the immunohistochemical data, lactoferrin might be used as a pointer to benign lesions.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma in Situ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Female; Ferritins; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Transferrin