[Immunohistochemical detection of extracellular matrix in human breast carcinoma]

Immunohistochemical ABC method was used to study the distribution of fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN) and type I, III & IV collagens (Ic, IIIc, IVc) as well as estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PgR) in 20 breast carcinomas and 10 benign mammary lesions. LN and IVc were found in vascular and epithelial basement membranes (BMs), and FN was found in BMs and non-BMs. Ic and IIIc were only detected in stroma. LN, IVc and FN displayed continuous linear patterns in benign lesions where Ic and IIIc were sparsely and FN was intensively distributed. BMs in carcinomas were absent in varying degrees, Ic, IIIc and IVc exhibited heterogeneous staining and sparse FN distribution. No differences were noted in ECM staining patterns and ER & PgR levels in patients with and without lymph node metastases. The above data suggest that there is an obvious decrease of BM in breast cancer, and a heterogeneous change in Ic, IIIc and IVc due to stroma-tumor cell reactions, which may play important roles in limiting cancer growth. The immunodetection of BM changes in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma does not help to evaluate the metastatic potential of tumors and is unrelated to the levels of ER and PgR.