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p63 expression in normal, hyperplastic and malignant breast tissues
Xiaojuan Wang1, Ichiro Mori, Weihua Tang
1Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan. wang-xj@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Breast Cancer (Tokyo, Japan)
|August 20, 2002
Summary
Loss of p63 protein expression in breast tissue correlates with ductal carcinoma progression. This finding may aid in distinguishing invasive breast cancer from pre-cancerous lesions for accurate clinical therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Epithelial Biology
Background:
- p63 protein is a homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor gene.
- p63 is selectively expressed in basal cells of various epithelial tissues.
- p63 is present in normal prostate basal cells but absent in prostatic carcinomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between p63 expression and breast ductal carcinoma progression.
- To determine the diagnostic utility of p63 in differentiating breast lesions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized indirect immunohistochemical and double staining methods.
- Analyzed 40 patient cases containing normal breast tissue, ductal hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ, and invasive ductal carcinoma.
Main Results:
- p63 was exclusively found in the myoepithelial cells of normal breast tissue.
- p63 expression decreased with progression: partially in ductal hyperplasia, rarely in carcinoma in situ, and absent in invasive carcinomas.
Conclusions:
- Loss of p63 expression is associated with breast ductal carcinoma progression.
- p63 immunostaining can assist in differentiating invasive ductal carcinoma from ductal carcinoma in situ and hyperplastic lesions.
- p63 status may guide clinical therapy decisions.