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A Next-generation Tissue Microarray ngTMA Protocol for Biomarker Studies
Published on: September 23, 2014
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Medullary breast carcinoma: a pathogenic review and immunohistochemical study using tissue microarray.
Ming Lee1, Ana Richelia Jara-Lazaro1, Poh Yian Cheok1
1Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Singapore Medical Journal
|April 18, 2021
Summary
Medullary breast carcinomas (MBCs) with basal-like phenotypes can have poor prognoses if lymphovascular invasion, high nodal stage, or triple negativity are present. This challenges the generally good outlook for MBCs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Breast Cancer Research
Background:
- Medullary breast carcinomas (MBCs) are typically high-grade tumors with a basal phenotype and a relatively good prognosis.
- However, certain subtypes may exhibit aggressive features requiring further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinicopathological features of MBCs.
- To correlate these features with immunohistochemical markers and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Histologic re-classification of 62 MBC cases using Ridolfi's criteria.
- Immunohistochemical analysis for hormonal markers, c-erbB-2, and basal markers (p53, CK14, EGFR, 34BE12).
- Correlation of findings with clinicopathological parameters and follow-up data.
Main Results:
- Re-classification identified 'atypical MBC' as the most frequent subtype (74.2%).
- Lymphovascular invasion and high nodal stage correlated with recurrence and mortality.
- Estrogen receptor (ER) negativity correlated with triple positivity for basal markers (CK14, EGFR, 34BE12), predicting decreased disease-free survival.
Conclusions:
- A subset of MBCs, particularly those with basal-like phenotypes exhibiting lymphovascular invasion, high nodal stage, or triple negativity, may have poor outcomes.
- These findings highlight the need for careful prognostic assessment in specific MBC subgroups.
