Original scientific paper
RELATIONSHIP OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-2 AND p63 EXPRESSION WITH PERITUMORAL CLEFTS IN INVASIVE DUCTAL CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST
CVJETKO LEŽ
; Zabok General Hospital, Department of Pathology and Cytology, Zabok, Josip Juraj Strossmayxer University of Osijek, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Osijek, Croatia
BOŽO KRUŠLIN
; Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, Ljudevit Jurak Department of Pathology and Cytology, Zagreb and University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim: To assess whether there is a relationship between the appearance of peritumoral clefts and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and p63 in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Furthermore, correlations between peritumoral clefts and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and p63 with other factors including patient age, histologic grade of tumor, size of tumor, axillary lymph node status, TNM classification, stage, expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as Her2/neu expression were also analyzed. Methods: Fifty specimens of invasive ductal breast carcinoma were collected, and the presence of peritumoral clefts, as well as immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and p63 was analyzed. Results: Peritumoral clefts were found in 94% of carcinomas. Statistical significance was more commonly recorded in older patients (p=0.010) and larger tumors (p=0.018). Positive reaction to MMP-2 was found in 50% of carcinomas. The study found no correlation between MMP-2 expression and peritumoral clefts, or with other factors analyzed. Positive expression of p63 was found in only one carcinoma, histologic grade 3, with strong positive expression of Her2/neu protein. Conclusion: Statistically significant correlation between expression of MMP-2 and the occurrence of peritumoral clefts was not found. Positive expression of p63 in myoepithelial cells of the surrounding healthy breast tissue, as well as the lack of immunoreactivity in carcinomas with peritumoral clefts suggested a correlation with the occurrence of peritumoral clefts and loss of myoepithelial cells. The more frequent occurrence of peritumoral clefts in larger tumors suggested a possible correlation between peritumoral clefts and aggressive biological behavior. To reach a definitive conclusion, additional data should be collected and analyzed from continued patient follow-up.
Keywords
breast carcinoma; peritumoral clefts; matrix metalloproteinase-2; p63
Hrčak ID:
224692
URI
Publication date:
6.9.2019.
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