Abstract
to evaluate the expression of aromatase in simultaneously invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). forty-five surgical samples were obtained from mastectomy and quadrantectomy with simultaneous IDC and DCIS of stage I and II patients. Aromatase was evaluated using antibodies anti-aromatase and the samples classified in accordance with the number and intensity of stained cells. Aromatase was expressed positively in 32(71%) and negatively in 13(29%) of the cases in the IDC. The same results were obtained in the DCIS showing a perfect positive correlation. In the normal epithelium,aromatase was positive in 19(42.2%) and negative in 26 (57.8%) and a positive correlation, statistically significant was obtained when compared with IDC and DCIS(p<0.01). Concerning the normal stroma, positivity was only 7 (15.5%) showing no correlation with aromatase expression. Aromatase was positive in 36(80%) of the tumor stroma and this result was statistically significant as in the IDC and DCIS. Comparing results of aromatase expression with nuclear grade, histological grade, tumor size and age no difference was found. our results demonstrated high correlation between aromatase expression in IDC, DCIS, normal epithelium and tumor stroma showing a possible autocrine and paracrine mechanism of this enzyme in breast cancer.
Highlights
The aromatase enzyme, a member of the cytochrome P450 family and a product of gene CYP19, acts as a catalyst in the biosynthesis of estrogen
The objective of this study was to examine its expression in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), tumor stroma, and normal epithelium and stroma, classifying aromatase expression according to tumor size and to age group. This was a retrospective study conducted at Hospital Central da Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (ISCMSP) over 22 months, comprehending patients submitted to mastectomies and quadrantectomies for to stages I and II breast cancer
Immunohistochemical aromatase expression in the various histological compartments tested was of 71 percent (n = 32) both for IDC and DCIS; 42.5 percent (n = 19) for normal epithelium, 79 percent (n = 36) for tumor stroma, and 15.5 percent (n = 7) for normal stroma
Summary
The aromatase enzyme, a member of the cytochrome P450 family and a product of gene CYP19, acts as a catalyst in the biosynthesis of estrogen. Menopausal women with hormonally responsive breast cancer may synthesize estrogen through the aromatase enzyme in peripheral tissues, such as muscles, the liver and adipose tissue, from whence the steroid enters the circulation and may, through endocrine mechanisms, affect mammary tumors. Especialista e pós-graduanda em Tocoginecologia pela Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 3. Doutora em Medicina - Professor doutor pela Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo e do departamento de Anatomia Patológica da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 5. Doutor em Medicina - Professor auxiliar da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo do departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia e chefe da Clínica de Mastologia da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 8. Doutor em Medicina - Professor adjunto da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo; chefe do departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia da
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