Phyllodes tumor of the breast: EGFR family expression and relation to clinicopathological features

The expression of EGFR family members was examined by immunohistochemistry in 22 phyllodes tumors, and the results were evaluated together with immunohistochemical findings for proliferation markers Ki67 and BM28, and the tumor suppressor gene product p53. Light and electron microscopy were performed in all cases. Clinical information was obtained from the medial records. We did find that expression of EG FR, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 proteins could be detected in the neoplastic mesenchymal cells, and that the expression increased with increasing malignancy. Increased expressions of Ki67, BM28, p53 and EGFR family members in neoplastic cells were associated with malignancy and unfavorable clinical course. Furthermore, the expression of ER-alpha and PR in the epithelial cells of phyllodes tumors was increased compared to that in normal breast epithelium. Finally, the application of electron microscopy helped to identify a group of malignant tumors, revealing neoplastic cells with characteristic nuclear indentations, as well as an increasing number of myofibroblasts.