Cyclin-D1 expression in node-positive (N+) and node-negative (N-) infiltrating human mammary carcinomas

Int J Cancer. 1999 Apr 20;84(2):139-44. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19990420)84:2<139::aid-ijc8>3.0.co;2-y.

Abstract

Cyclin-D1 (CD1) expression was analyzed in human mammary carcinomas by immunohistochemical (IHC) and flow-cytometry (FCM) methods: 52.5% and 50% of cases were strong expressors of CD1 by IHC and FCM analysis respectively. The percentage of CD1-positive cells was especially high in node-negative (N-) estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) tumors, probably as a consequence of CD1 induction by estrogens in steroid-responsive tissues. However, CD1 expression was not related to ER positivity in node-positive tumors (N+). An interesting relationship between CD1 expression and H3-thymidine labelling index (H3Td-LI) was also found: CD1 and H3Td-LI were unrelated in N- tumors, while high CD1 expression was observed in N+ tumors with high DNA synthesis, as assessed by H3Td-LI. The combined measurement of DNA and CD1 showed that 27 specimens were aneuploid, 19 of them (19/27; 70%) strongly expressing CD1. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of CD1 in DNA abnormality of breast tumors. However, we cannot exclude that the CD1 may be differently de-regulated in the last phase of tumor progression, and that CD1 over-expression may contribute to the aneuploidy of mammary carcinomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / secondary
  • Cell Division
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ploidies
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Cyclin D1