Immunohistochemical features of claudin-low intrinsic subtype in metaplastic breast carcinomas.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The claudin-low molecular subtype of breast cancer includes triple negative invasive carcinomas, with a high frequency of metaplastic and medullary features. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression of claudins in a series of metaplastic breast carcinomas. We also assessed other claudin-low features, such as the cancer stem cell-like and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenotypes.

RESULTS:

The majority of the cases showed weak or negative staining for membrane claudins expression. We found 76.9% (10/13) low expressing cases for claudin-1, 84.6% (11/13) for claudin-3 and claudin-4, and 92.3% (12/13) for claudin-7. Regarding the cancer stem cell marker ALDH1, 30.8% (4/13) showed positive staining. We also showed that the majority of the cases presented a CD44(+)CD24(-/low) phenotype, positivity for vimentin and lack of E-cadherin expression. Interestingly, these claudin-low molecular features were specific of the mesenchymal component of metaplastic breast carcinomas, since its frequency was very low in other breast cancer molecular subtypes, as luminal, HER2-overexpressing and non-metaplastic triple negative tumors.

CONCLUSIONS:

The negative/low expression of claudins and E-cadherin, high levels of vimentin, and the breast cancer stem cell phenotype suggests that metaplastic breast carcinomas have similar features to the ones included in the claudin-low molecular subtype, specially their mesenchymal components.

• Authors: Renê Gerhard, Sara Ricardo, André Albergaria, Madalena Gomes, Alfredo Ribeiro Silva, Ângela Flavia Logullo, Jorge F Cameselle-Teijeiro, Joana Paredes, Fernando Schmitt
• Journal: Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) (Breast) Vol. 21 Issue 3 Pg. 354-60 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1532-3080 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22464177 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CLDN1 protein, human
• CLDN3 protein, human
• CLDN4 protein, human
• CLDN7 protein, human
• Claudin-1
• Claudin-3
• Claudin-4
• Claudins
• Membrane Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Claudin-1
• Claudin-3
• Claudin-4
• Claudins (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Membrane Proteins (metabolism)
• Metaplasia (metabolism, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Young Adult