The prognostic significance of the semiquantitatively determined estrogen receptor content of breast carcinomas. A clinicopathological study

Analysis of expression patterns of breast cancer-specific markers (mammaglobin and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15) in lung and pleural tumors

CONTEXT

The lung is the most common site of metastasis during the natural history of malignant tumors. Breast carcinoma has a propensity for distant metastasis, and the lung and pleura are among the most common metastatic sites. Although it is often difficult to make a clear-cut differential diagnosis between the two, distinguishing primary lung carcinoma from breast carcinoma metastatic to the lung is important because the treatment modalities are different.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the utility of mammaglobin and gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15), which are known to be breast-specific antigens, in distinguishing various primary lung and pleural tumors from breast carcinoma metastasizing to the lung.

DESIGN

A total of 20 cases of breast carcinoma metastatic to the lung and 263 tumors of nonbreast origin located in the lung and pleura were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 20 cases of breast carcinoma metastatic to the lung, 10 (50.0%) were immunoreactive for mammaglobin and 9 (45.0%) for GCDFP-15, the frequency of positivity being slightly higher for the former than for the latter. The area immunopositive for mammaglobin showed more diffuse staining than the area immunopositive for GCDFP-15. Furthermore, the specificity of mammaglobin for breast carcinoma metastatic to the lung was superior (98.9%) to that of GCDFP-15 (91.8%).

CONCLUSION

The sensitivity of mammaglobin is equal or superior to that of GCDFP-15 for investigation of breast carcinoma. Immunopositivity for mammaglobin is more diffuse than that for GCDFP-15. In terms of practical diagnosis, mammaglobin immunohistochemistry can serve as a differential marker of breast carcinoma and should be added to the immunohistochemical panel.

The utility of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor immunohistochemistry in the distinction of metastatic breast carcinoma from other tumors in the liver

CONTEXT

The distinction of metastatic breast adenocarcinoma (MBA) to the liver from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and metastatic adenocarcinoma from other sites may require the use of immunohistochemistry. The use of antibodies directed against estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) has been suggested to help make this distinction.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the utility of ER and PR immunohistochemistry in the distinction of MBA from HCC, CC, and other metastatic adenocarcinomas in the liver.

METHODS

Ninety-two previously characterized hepatic neoplasms were identified, including HCC (n = 14), CC (n = 16), and metastatic tumors from breast (n = 17), colorectal (n = 14), pancreatic (n = 15), and esophageal/gastric (n = 16) origins. For all cases of metastatic tumor, the primary tumor was reviewed to verify the diagnosis. All tumors were graded as well, moderately, or poorly differentiated. Estrogen receptor and PR immunohistochemical staining was performed on all cases and evaluated by 2 pathologists.

RESULTS

Immunoreactivity for ER was identified only in MBA, with 6 (35%) of 17 cases positive. Positive immunoreactivity for PR was not restricted to MBA, but was seen in HCC, CC, esophageal/gastric, and pancreatic metastases. Positive immunostaining with PR was nearly as frequent in poorly differentiated carcinomas of nonbreast origin (3/16 cases, 19%) as in poorly differentiated breast carcinomas (2/8 cases, 25%).

CONCLUSION

Progesterone receptor exhibited poor specificity and sensitivity for the distinction of MBA from HCC, CC, and other metastatic adenocarcinomas. Estrogen receptor exhibited poor sensitivity for MBA, although the specificity was good. The finding that PR positivity was present with a similar frequency in poorly differentiated tumors of breast and nonbreast origin limits the usefulness of this marker. Therefore, ER and PR staining have limited utility in the distinction of MBA from HCC, CC, and other metastatic adenocarcinomas in the liver.