Análisis de factores celulares y moleculares de la frontera tumoral relacionados con la afectación de los ganglios centinela y no centinela en el cáncer de mama

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate the predictive value of tumour involvement of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in terms of specific cellular and molecular factors at the tumoural margin of primary tumours, as well as the value of expression of these factors in the SLNs to predict the involvement of non-SLNs in breast cancer. Patients and methodsTissue samples from 59 patients who underwent the validation phase of SLN biopsy of breast cancer were analyzed. Tissue samples from the tumoural margin of primary tumours and from SLNs were selected. Immunohistochemical studies were performed using the tissue array technique and antibodies against D2-40, CD3, CD20, CD68, CD138, metalloprotease (MMP)-1, MMP-7, MMP-13 and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1). ResultsTumoural invasion of the lymph nodes and the number of CD68- or CD138-positive mononuclear inflammatory cells (MICs) were positively and significantly associated with tumoural involvement of the SLNs. TIMP-1 expression, both by tumour cells and by MICs or fibroblasts from the tumor stroma, was negatively and significantly associated with tumoural involvement. MMP-1 expression by MICs from neoplastic SLNs was significantly associated with tumoural involvement of non-SLNs. ConclusionsDetermination of both cellular and molecular factors at the tumoural margin may contribute to better assessment of the different phases of lymph node metastases in breast cancer.