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Related Experiment Videos

Naked nuclei revisited: p63 Immunoexpression.

Jorge S Reis-Filho1, Andre Albergaria, Fernanda Milanezi

  • 1IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Diagnostic Cytopathology
|August 31, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Naked nuclei (NN) in breast fibroadenomas are common but their origin is unclear. This study suggests most naked nuclei are myoepithelial cells, identified using p63 protein expression in cell samples.

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Area of Science:

  • Breast pathology
  • Cytopathology
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Naked nuclei (NN) are frequently observed in breast fibroadenoma cytology.
  • The cellular origin of NN in fibroadenomas has remained uncertain.
  • Previous studies lacked reliable markers to identify myoepithelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origin of naked nuclei in breast fibroadenomas.
  • To evaluate the expression of p63 as a marker for myoepithelial cells in fibroadenomas.
  • To correlate p63 expression in cytological and histological samples.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic evaluation of p63 protein expression.
  • Analysis of 10 fibroadenoma specimens (cytological and histological preparations).
  • Immunohistochemical staining for p63.

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Main Results:

  • p63 expression was confirmed in myoepithelial/basal cells of normal breast tissue.
  • In fibroadenomas, p63 stained myoepithelial cells around epithelial formations.
  • NN and cells adjacent to epithelial clusters in cytological samples showed p63 staining, while stromal and epithelial cells did not.

Conclusions:

  • The study strongly suggests that naked nuclei in breast fibroadenomas are predominantly of myoepithelial origin.
  • p63 serves as a reliable marker for identifying myoepithelial cells in fibroadenoma cytology and histology.
  • This finding clarifies the cellular composition of fibroadenomas and aids in differential diagnosis.