CD1a down-regulation in primary invasive ductal breast carcinoma may predict regional lymph node invasion and patient outcome.

Abstract

AIMS:

CD1a is a molecule belonging to the highly conserved group of CD1 proteins. Its expression in dendritic cells is related to the presentation of tumour-derived glycolipid antigens to T cells and, consequently, the development of a successful antitumour response. The aim was to investigate the presence of CD1a+ cells in both primary tumours and lymph nodes (LN) of a series of 35 invasive ductal carcinomas by both immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

CD1a antigen was more expressed in N0 than N1 breast cancer (P < 0.0001) in both primary lesions and LN metastases and correlated positively and significantly with oestrogen (ER) (P = 0.0025) and progesterone (P = 0.0226) receptor (PR) status, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the first report to show a link between CD1a+ mononuclear cells in breast cancer and in paired LN metastases. The positive and significant correlations between the number of CD1a+ cells and positivity of the primary tumour for ER and PR suggest a possible role for CD1a as a prognostic marker for breast cancer, raising the possibility that hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients may have a better prognosis in the presence of greater dendritic cell infiltration.

• Authors: G La Rocca, R Anzalone, S Corrao, F Magno, F Rappa, S Marasà, A M Czarnecka, L Marasà, C Sergi, G Zummo, F Cappello
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 52 Issue 2 Pg. 203-12 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 1365-2559 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18184269 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD1
• CD1a antigen
• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antigens, CD1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Dendritic Cells
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymphatic Metastasis (diagnosis, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (metabolism)