Immunohistochemical and clinicopathologic characteristics of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast with micropapillary carcinoma component.

Abstract

Abstract Context.—A micropapillary carcinoma (MC) component is generally considered to behave aggressively. Although several reports have described the prognostic significance of MC in breast carcinomas, immunohistochemical findings of MC, especially as compared to non-MC, are rarely described. Objective.—We compared clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical findings between 38 cases of invasive breast carcinoma with an MC component (IMC) and 217 cases of invasive breast carcinoma without an MC component (NIMC). Design.—We constructed a tissue microarray from 38 cases of IMC and performed immunohistochemical stainings for cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK20, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, p53, c-Erb-B2, CD34, CK5, epidermal growth factor receptor, and c-Kit in both MC and non-MC components. Results.—Cases with IMC were associated with greater tumor size, more frequent lymphovascular invasion, nodal metastases, greater mean numbers of positive lymph nodes, and higher stage than those with NIMC, but were no...