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Apoptosis in breast cancer
Raje Nijhawan1, Manikkapurath Hemachandran, Kusum Joshi
1Department of Cytology and Gynecologic Pathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160 012, India.
Acta Cytologica
|April 11, 2003
Summary
Evaluating apoptotic rates in breast cancer fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples improved cytologic grading accuracy. Incorporating apoptosis significantly enhanced sensitivity compared to standard histologic grading.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Breast ductal carcinoma grading is crucial for prognosis and treatment.
- Current cytologic grading of breast cancer may have limitations in sensitivity.
- Apoptotic rates are emerging as potential biomarkers in cancer assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess apoptotic rates in fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples of infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
- To determine if incorporating apoptotic rates enhances the accuracy of cytologic grading compared to histologic grading.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 35 mastectomy cases following FNA diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma.
- Calculation of concordance between cytologic and histologic grades.
- Evaluation of cytologic grades with apoptotic rates against histologic grades.
Main Results:
- An 82.9% overall concordance between cytologic and histologic grading was observed.
- Apoptotic rates significantly increased with higher histologic grades in FNA samples.
- Cytologic grading sensitivity improved significantly when apoptotic rates were considered.
Conclusions:
- Standard cytologic grading for breast ductal carcinoma shows lower sensitivity than histologic grading.
- Incorporating apoptotic rates into cytologic analysis significantly enhances its sensitivity.
- Further research is needed to integrate apoptosis into routine cytologic grading systems for breast cancer.