Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a set of low molecular weight proteins with a high binding affinity to metal ions. MT over-expression has been recently demonstrated in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with poor clinical prognosis. In the present study, MTs have been immunohistochemically investigated in normal human breast tissue and a variety of benign, pre-invasive, and malignant breast lesions. In normal breast tissue, MTs were present in myoepithelial cells whereas the vast majority of luminal cells were MT negative. In lesions without increased cancer risk (adenosis and scleradenosis), MT was only immunolocalized in myoepithelial cells. In papillomas, MT was also found exclusively in myoepithelial cells. In most cases of epitheliosis, both the luminal and myoepithelial cells expressed MT. Atypicallobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and 13/15 invasive lobular carcinomas showed no MT over-expression. The two invasive lobular carcinomas with MT over-expression were classified as pleomorphic lobular carcinomas with apocrine differentiation. In contrast to lobular cancerization, 12/24 ductal in situ carcinomas and 9/20 invasive ductal carcinomas showed MT over-expression. In situ components found within invasive ductal carcinomas usually reflected the MT status of their invasive counterpart. It is concluded from our immunohistochemical results that breast carcinoma cases with MT overexpression arise from lesions which also show MT overexpression. Thus MT expression in carcinomas may be regarded as a genuine feature of the tumour cells and seems not to be related to endogenous or exogenous factors known to induce MT synthesis.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 213-221 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Breast Cancer Research and Treatment |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- breast carcinoma
- carcinoma in situ
- hyperplastic breast lesions
- immunohistochemistry
- metallothionein
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Cite this
Immunohistochemical demonstration of metallothionein in normal human breast tissue and benign and malignant breast lesions. / Bier, Bert; Douglas-Jones, Anthony; Tötsch, Martin; Dockhorn-Dworniczak, Barbara; Böcker, Werner; Jasani, Bharat; Schmid, Kurt Werner.
In: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Vol. 30, No. 3, 01.1994, p. 213-221.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunohistochemical demonstration of metallothionein in normal human breast tissue and benign and malignant breast lesions
AU - Bier, Bert
AU - Douglas-Jones, Anthony
AU - Tötsch, Martin
AU - Dockhorn-Dworniczak, Barbara
AU - Böcker, Werner
AU - Jasani, Bharat
AU - Schmid, Kurt Werner
PY - 1994/1
Y1 - 1994/1
N2 - Metallothioneins (MTs) are a set of low molecular weight proteins with a high binding affinity to metal ions. MT over-expression has been recently demonstrated in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with poor clinical prognosis. In the present study, MTs have been immunohistochemically investigated in normal human breast tissue and a variety of benign, pre-invasive, and malignant breast lesions. In normal breast tissue, MTs were present in myoepithelial cells whereas the vast majority of luminal cells were MT negative. In lesions without increased cancer risk (adenosis and scleradenosis), MT was only immunolocalized in myoepithelial cells. In papillomas, MT was also found exclusively in myoepithelial cells. In most cases of epitheliosis, both the luminal and myoepithelial cells expressed MT. Atypicallobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and 13/15 invasive lobular carcinomas showed no MT over-expression. The two invasive lobular carcinomas with MT over-expression were classified as pleomorphic lobular carcinomas with apocrine differentiation. In contrast to lobular cancerization, 12/24 ductal in situ carcinomas and 9/20 invasive ductal carcinomas showed MT over-expression. In situ components found within invasive ductal carcinomas usually reflected the MT status of their invasive counterpart. It is concluded from our immunohistochemical results that breast carcinoma cases with MT overexpression arise from lesions which also show MT overexpression. Thus MT expression in carcinomas may be regarded as a genuine feature of the tumour cells and seems not to be related to endogenous or exogenous factors known to induce MT synthesis.
AB - Metallothioneins (MTs) are a set of low molecular weight proteins with a high binding affinity to metal ions. MT over-expression has been recently demonstrated in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with poor clinical prognosis. In the present study, MTs have been immunohistochemically investigated in normal human breast tissue and a variety of benign, pre-invasive, and malignant breast lesions. In normal breast tissue, MTs were present in myoepithelial cells whereas the vast majority of luminal cells were MT negative. In lesions without increased cancer risk (adenosis and scleradenosis), MT was only immunolocalized in myoepithelial cells. In papillomas, MT was also found exclusively in myoepithelial cells. In most cases of epitheliosis, both the luminal and myoepithelial cells expressed MT. Atypicallobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and 13/15 invasive lobular carcinomas showed no MT over-expression. The two invasive lobular carcinomas with MT over-expression were classified as pleomorphic lobular carcinomas with apocrine differentiation. In contrast to lobular cancerization, 12/24 ductal in situ carcinomas and 9/20 invasive ductal carcinomas showed MT over-expression. In situ components found within invasive ductal carcinomas usually reflected the MT status of their invasive counterpart. It is concluded from our immunohistochemical results that breast carcinoma cases with MT overexpression arise from lesions which also show MT overexpression. Thus MT expression in carcinomas may be regarded as a genuine feature of the tumour cells and seems not to be related to endogenous or exogenous factors known to induce MT synthesis.
KW - breast carcinoma
KW - carcinoma in situ
KW - hyperplastic breast lesions
KW - immunohistochemistry
KW - metallothionein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028064532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028064532&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF00665963
DO - 10.1007/BF00665963
M3 - Article
VL - 30
SP - 213
EP - 221
JO - Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
JF - Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
SN - 0167-6806
IS - 3
ER -