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Vimentin expression in benign and malignant breast epithelium
M Heatley1, C Whiteside, P Maxwell
1Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Vimentin expression in breast tissue does not distinguish benign from malignant conditions. However, vimentin levels correlate with tumor grade in ductal carcinomas, suggesting a potential prognostic role.
Area of Science:
- Biopathology
- Oncology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in mesenchymal cells.
- Its expression in epithelial cells of breast tissue is less understood.
- Understanding vimentin's role may offer insights into breast cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vimentin expression in benign breast disease and malignant breast tumors.
- To evaluate vimentin as a prognostic indicator in breast carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- Examined frozen and formalin-fixed tissues from breast carcinomas and benign lesions using V9 monoclonal antibody.
- Correlated vimentin expression with prognostic indicators in ductal carcinomas.
- Assessed intracellular localization of vimentin in benign and malignant lesions.
Main Results:
- Vimentin was detected in various breast carcinomas and benign lesions, with higher expression in lobular carcinomas and fibroadenomas.
- Formalin fixation significantly reduced vimentin detection, particularly in benign tissues.
- Vimentin expression on frozen sections correlated with tumor grade, size, lymph node status, and growth fraction, with only grade showing statistical significance (p=0.045).
Conclusions:
- Formalin fixation causes some loss of vimentin immunoreactivity.
- Vimentin expression does not differentiate benign from malignant breast disease.
- Vimentin expression is correlated with tumor grade in ductal carcinoma.