Isfoss BL, Holmqvist B, Sand E, Forsell J, Jernström H, Olsson H. Stellate cells and mesenchymal stem cells in benign mammary stroma are associated with risk factors for breast cancer - an observational study.
BMC Cancer 2018;
18:230. [PMID:
29486751 PMCID:
PMC6389039 DOI:
10.1186/s12885-018-4151-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
It is not known whether stromal cells in benign breast tissue can mediate risk of breast cancer. We recently described aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 A1 (ALDH1) positive (+) cells in morphologically normal breast stroma of premenopausal women, and the data indicated that their distribution is associated with clinical risk factors for breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to define the identities of these cells using histologic and immunohistologic methods, and to investigate associations between those cells and hormonal and genetic risk factors in pre- and postmenopausal women.
Methods
Stroma of morphologically normal tissue was analyzed in samples from 101 well-characterized women whose breasts had been operated. Morphology and immunolabeling were applied to determine cell identities based on the putative stem cell markers ALDH1 and stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA3), and immunophenotypes indicating mast cells or stellate cells. The results were compared with the patients’ risk factors using regression analysis (two-tailed).
Results
ALDH1+ round/oval cells were associated with low parity in BRCA1/2 carriers (p = 0.022), while in non-BRCA1/2-carriers they were negatively associated with nulliparity (p = 0.057). In premenopausal women ALDH1+ round/oval cells were associated with family history (p = 0.058). SSEA3+ round/oval cells were morphologically and immunohistologically consistent with multilineage stress-enduring (Muse) cells, and these cells were independently associated with the breast cancer risk factors low parity (p = 0.015), family history (p = 0.021), and hormone use after menopause (p = 0.032). ALDH1+ spindle-shaped/polygonal cells were immunohistologically consistent with stellate cells, and were negatively associated with family history of breast cancer (p = 0.001).
Conclusion
This study identified novel stromal cell types in benign breast tissue that have a potential for stratifying women for breast cancer risk.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4151-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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