Stromal CD10 Expression Research Articles

CD10 Expression in Epithelial and Stromal Cells of Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC): A Clinic and Pathologic Correlation

CD10 is a zinc dependent metallopeptidase, and its expression in stromal and/or epithelial cells of many carcinomas has been suggested to have prognostic value. This study investigates CD10 expression in epithelial and stromal cells of non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and evaluates its prognostic value for this tumor and its histologic subtypes. Sixty-six cases of NSCLC [35 cases of nonsquamous cell carcinoma (NSCC) and 31 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)] were analyzed immuno-histochemically for CD10 antibody. Fisher's exact test and univariate survival analyses were performed. Comparison of clinicopathologic characteristics for NSCLC showed that only stromal CD10 expression had worse prognostic impact, associated with the presence of recurrence (p = 0.001), death (p = 0.006) and disease positivity (p = 0.001). For SCC, CD10 was found to be expressed mainly in the stromal cells, and was associated with a decreased survival (p = 0.000) and disease free survival (p = 0.000). CD10 expression was restricted to the epithelial cells in NSCC and associated with an increased disease free survival (p = 0.036). Stromal CD10 expression apppears to be a worse prognostic factor in NSCLCs. CD10 which is expressed in different cell components of SCC and NSCC appears to have opposing effects on the behaviour of these histologic types.

Stromal Expression of CD10 in Invasive Breast Carcinoma and Its Correlation with ER, PR, HER2-neu, and Ki67

CD10 is a cell surface zinc-dependent endopeptidase, which degrades many bioactive peptides. CD10 expression in tumour stroma is associated with biological aggressiveness of many epithelial malignancies. To date, only one study has correlated with expression of CD10 with well-known prognostic markers of breast, that is, ER, PR, HER2-neu, and tumour grade; however, its correlation with ki67 is still not studied. The aim of this study is to evaluate stromal CD10 expression in breast carcinoma and to examine its correlation with ER, PR, HER2-neu, and Ki67. Methods and Results. CD10 expression in fifty patients was assessed by immunohistochemistry and scored as negative, weak and strong. CD10 was found to be positive in stroma of 40/50 (80%) cases. Stromal CD10 showed positive correlation with tumour grade, HER2-neu (P = .000), and ki67 (P = .027), negative correlation with ER and PR. Conclusions. Hence CD10 expression correlated strongly with well-established negative prognostic markers, that is, HER2-neu and ki67 positivity, ER/PR negativity, and higher tumour grade, thus indicating that CD10 can be used as independent marker indicating poor prognosis and can be used as target for the development of novel therapies.

Comparison of stromal CD10 expression in benign, borderline, and malignant phyllodes tumors among Egyptian female patients

Phyllodes tumors are group of biphasic fibroepithelial tumors of the breast of varying malignant potential, ranging from benign tumors to fully malignant sarcomas. According to the Egyptian National Cancer Institute, female malignant cases showed appreciable increase in the recent time period for breast cancer with the malignant phyllodes tumors representing 0.41% of cases in the year 2003-2004. This is an immunohistochemical study to compare CD10 expression in benign, borderline, and malignant phyllodes tumors, in order to highlight its diagnostic and prognostic values. This study conducted 34 Egyptian female cases of phyllodes tumors of different grades to be studied histologically and immunohistochemically using antibodies against CD10. The Chi-square test was used to determine differences in CD10 expression between benign, borderline, and malignant tumors. One-way ANOVA test was used to determine whether the difference was significant. Significance was established at P<0.05. In the 24 cases of benign phyllodes tumors, only four cases (16.7%) showed positive CD10 reactivity. Three cases (60%) out of five borderline phyllodes tumors showed positive CD10 reactivity, while four (80%) out of five cases of malignant phyllodes tumors showed positive CD10 staining. From these highly significant results, we believe that there is a strong correlation between CD10 expression and tumor grade, which could be an important observation that may have both diagnostic and prognostic implications as well as promising potential target for development of novel therapies.

Stromal CD10 and SPARC expression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients predicts disease recurrence

The current classification of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is based on nuclear grade, architectural differentiation and the presence of necrosis that does not adequately predict the likelihood of recurrence after breast conserving therapy; therefore, there is a critical need to identify novel predictors of DCIS progression. Ninety seven cases of DCIS were included in the study. CD10 and SPARC expression in tumor stroma was assessed by standard immunoperoxidase method with ani-CD 10 and anti-SPARC antibodies. The staining was scored semi-quantitatively as negative (0; no staining), weak or strong. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test. Multivariable analysis was conducted utilizing Exact Logistic Regression software (SAS 9.1 and LogExact). A significant association was observed between the recurrence status and time to recurrence with expression of CD10 (p<0.001) and SPARC (p<0.001). When combining both SPARC and CD10 expression there was a strong correlation with the shortest time to recurrence. Stromal CD10 and SPARC expression are new markers of an increased risk for DCIS recurrence, independent of commonly assessed clinical parameters. Thus, stromal CD10 and SPARC expression levels are promising markers of DCIS recurrence and warrant evaluation in larger prospective studies.

Stromal CD10 expression and relationship to the E‐cadherin/β‐catenin complex in breast carcinoma

Previous investigations have indicated that stromal CD10 expression, and altered levels of both E-cadherin and beta-catenin, are associated with the biological aggressiveness of human carcinoma. The aim was to evaluate stromal CD10 expression and the association of stromal CD10 with E-cadherin and beta-catenin in breast carcinoma. The expression of CD10, E-cadherin and beta-catenin was immunohistochemically analysed in tissue microarrays containing 104 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 10 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Stromal CD10 was detected in 49.5% (50/101) of the IDC. No immunoreactivity was identified in the stromal cells of normal breast, DCIS or intraductal components of IDC. Accumulation of the cytoplasmic beta-catenin was found in 87.0% (87/100) of the IDC. Stromal CD10 expression in IDC was significantly correlated with tumour size (P = 0.027), stage (P < 0.001) and histological grade (P = 0.006), the presence of nodal (P = 0.048) and distant (P = 0.015) metastases, oestrogen receptor-negative status (P = 0.016), cytoplasmic beta-catenin accumulation (P = 0.031) and lower overall survival rate (P = 0.041). Stromal CD10 expression in IDC may constitute an important prognostic marker. Stromal CD10 expression with associated aggressive features might be related to aberrant beta-catenin expression.

Abstract 3995: Differential expression of CD10 immunohistochemistry in stroma and epithelium of prostatic adenocarcinoma

Abstract Introduction: CD10 is a transmembrane metallo-endopeptidase involved in cleavage and inactivation of certain peptide hormones important for signal transduction. CD10 is strongly expressed by normal prostatic luminal epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical (IHC) studies have shown expression of CD10 in prostatic adenocarcinoma. (PCa). Loss of CD10 expression is a common, early event in human prostate cancer (PCa); however, CD10 positive cancer cells frequently appear in lymph node metastasis. Only a few studies are available on the expression of CD10 in the prostatic stromal and cancer cells. We investigated the IHC expression of CD10 in epithelium and stroma of PCa using TMAs. Material and Methods: Prostate tissue from 72 radical prostatectomies was used to construct two TMAs; 35 case of Gleason score (GS) 6(3+3) and 37 cases of high grade (HG) prostate cancer (GS 8, 9, 10) were included. Each case was represented by three, 1mm cores for a total of 105 cores for the GS6 and 111 cores for HG prostate carcinomas. TMAs were stained with H&amp;E and IHC was performed for CD10. Digital images of the TMA slides were scanned using the T3 ScanScope by Aperio Technologies. Epithelial and stromal expression of CD10 was scored as negative or positive. Results: CD10 was expressed in epithelium and stroma of PCa. CD10 had heterogeneous expression within individual patients in both epithelium and stroma. This heterogeneity was not significantly different between GS6 and HG prostate cancer. CD10 was differentially expressed in epithelium of GS6 and HG prostate cancer. HG prostate cancer showed significantly more epithelial staining with CD10 (p=0.001) and less stromal staining with CD10 (p=0.003) compared to GS6. Conclusion: GS6 and HG prostate cancer demonstrate a reverse relationship between CD10 expression in the epithelium and the stroma. Epithelial CD10 expression is an unfavorable risk factor in prostate cancer. Prostate tumors expressing high levels of epithelial CD10 correlate with a poor disease outcome. CD10 may be important in the biology of the tumor stromal microenvironment and its contribution to tumor progression requires further investigation. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3995.

Stromal CD10 expression, as well as increased dermal macrophages and decreased Langerhans cells, are associated with malignant transformation of keratinocytes

It has become evident that resident stromal cells, such as fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, are involved in the metastatic process, including proliferation or migration of malignant neoplasms. We analyzed CD10+ stromal cells, dermal macrophages and Langerhans cells (LCs) in skin tumors. Immunohistological staining was performed with markers for macrophages (CD68), LC (CD1a), stromal fibroblasts (CD10) and cell proliferation (Ki67) in 12 normal skins (NSs) and 15 cases each of seborrheic keratosis (SK), actinic keratosis (AK), keratoacanthoma (KA), Bowen's disease (BD) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All SCCs showed weak to strong stromal CD10 expression, while all NS, SK and AK were negative. Weak CD10 expression was observed in only 2 of 15 samples in both BD and KA. The number of CD68+ cells and Ki67 labeling index in SCC and BD were significantly higher than that in KA, AK and SK. In contrast, the number of LC was lower in SCC and BD. The stromal CD10 expression was significantly correlated with the Ki67 labeling indices and CD68+ cells and negatively correlated with decreased LC. The stromal CD10 expression is associated with malignant transformation of keratinocytes together with infiltration of dermal macrophages and loss of LC.

Interstitial granulomatous drug reaction following intravenous ganciclovir

strated in breast carcinomas, and suggested its correlation with poor prognosis. We therefore addressed whether EMPD exhibits a similar stromal CD10 expression. In the present study, the stromal CD10 expression was obviously correlated with Ki-67-positive proliferative capacity and invasiveness of Paget cells in EMPD. In four of 19 cases of in situ EMPD, weak to strong CD10 expression was detected in the stromal cells of peritumoral dermis; also, > 30% of Paget cells expressed Ki-67 in five of 19 instances of in situ EMPD. These instances of in situ EMPD might be considered to be in a pre-invasive state. As our study shows only histopathological results, further investigations should be done to determine the significance of stromal CD10 expression. The invasive and ⁄or metastatic potential of several types of cancers is regulated by interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in the microenvironment, involving stimulatory and ⁄or inhibitory factors that regulate cellular adhesion, migration and gene expression. CD10 may be induced by the cancer cells through soluble factors similar to other metalloproteinase families. Some experimental data indicate that CD10 may be a potential target for new cancer therapies, as it is involved in cleavage of doxorubicin, a critical component of many cancer treatment protocols, and results in chemoresistance. Inhibition of CD10 enzymatic activity may enhance the antitumour efficacy of traditional chemotherapeutic regimens. Our observation that CD10 was expressed in the stromal cells of more advanced EMPD may emphasize that the stromal cells may also have a very important role in the progression of EMPD.

Stromal CD10 expression is correlated with invasiveness and proliferation of extramammary Paget disease

Stromal CD10 expression is correlated with invasiveness and proliferation of extramammary Paget disease

CD10 expression in tumour and stromal cells of bladder carcinoma: an association with bilharziasis

CD10 is a cell surface zinc metalloprotease expressed in a variety of normal cell types, including lymphoid precursor cells, germinal centre B lymphocytes and some epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of CD10 in bladder carcinoma. The expression of CD10 was immunohistochemically assessed in 49 cases of primary bladder carcinoma in comparison with 10 non-neoplastic normal bladder mucosa specimens. 27 cases (55%) were tumour CD10(+) and tumour CD10 positivity was significantly correlated with advanced stage, larger tumor size, and shorter mean survival time. Extensive tumoral staining assessed by H score further documented the positive correlation of CD10 with worse prognostic factors in the whole group and its subdivisions (SCC and TCC), in addition to its significant association with bilharziasis in SCC. Only CD10-tumour positivity in the whole group proved to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival by multivariate analysis. No significant value of stromal CD10 expression in the investigated bladder carcinoma cases was found. This study points to the prognostic value of neoplastic CD10 expression in bladder carcinoma and its possible importance in facilitating tumour invasion and metastasis. Bilharziasis could have a role in upregulation of CD10 expression in SCC.

CD10 expression in stromal cells of ameloblastoma variants

We performed an immunohistochemical study in a series of ameloblastomas with different histology to explore the existence of a correlation between CD10 immunoreactivity in peritumoral stromal cells and the type of ameloblastoma with a high risk of local recurrence. A total of 45 ameloblastomas (18 unicystic [UA], 4 peripheral [PA], 23 solid/multicystic [SA]) were evaluated. Cases showing immunoreactivity for CD10 in < and > or =10% of stromal cells around tumoral epithelial islands, were considered, respectively, negative and positive. Correlations between stromal CD10 expression and histopathologic types with low and high risk of recurrence were evaluated by statistical analysis. SA cases showed a significantly higher percentage of stromal CD10-positive cells than the UA and PA variants. A strong intensity of immunostaining was observed only in SA. Our results suggest that CD10 expression might be associated with stromal invasion in ameloblastoma variants with a high risk of recurrences.

Stromal CD10 expression in invasive breast carcinoma correlates with poor prognosis, estrogen receptor negativity, and high grade

AbstractCD10 is a zinc-dependent peptidase (metalloproteinase), which degrades a variety of bioactive peptides. Earlier studies suggested that CD10 expression in tumor stroma is associated with biological aggressiveness of the tumor. To date, only one study has addressed the clinical significance of stromal CD10 expression in invasive carcinoma of the breast. The aim of this confirmatory study is to evaluate stromal CD10 expression in breast carcinoma and to examine associations between CD10, clinicopathological variables, and patient outcome. Tissue microarrays, containing 438 cases of invasive breast carcinoma and 15 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ with 15 years median follow-up time, were assembled. CD10 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and scored as negative, weak and strong. Nonparametric correlational tests, univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. Stromal CD10 was preferentially expressed in invasive compared to noninvasive breast cancers (P=0.003). There were correlations between stromal CD10 expression and higher tumor grade (P=0.01) and estrogen receptor (ER) negative status (P=0.002). There was no correlation between CD10 and lymph node status, tumor size, histological subtype, progesterone receptors, and Her2 status. Stromal CD 10 expression was associated with decreased long-term disease-specific and overall survival in the entire cohort (P<0.01), and in lymph node negative (P<0.05), but not lymph node positive subset of patients. It approached prognostic significance in multivariate analysis (P=0.06) when lymph node status, tumor size, ER and Her2 were considered in the same model; and was associated with a relative risk of death of 2.8, compared to relative risk of 2.4 for lymph node positive status. Thus, stromal CD10 expression in invasive carcinoma of the breast is associated with ER negativity, higher tumor grade and decreased survival and constitutes a potential prognostic marker and a target for development of novel therapies.

CD10 expression in pancreatic endocrine tumors: correlation with prognostic factors and survival

CD10 is a cell surface metalloprotease expressed by a variety of hematopoietic and solid tumors. Immunohistochemical expression of CD10 was examined in 91 pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) included in tissue microarrays and representing various stages of tumorigenesis as well as in 10 normal pancreas tissues. The results were correlated with histoprognostic factors, namely, Ki-67 index and microvascular density. Thirty PETs (33%) presented positive cytoplasmic staining, and in 7 cases (8%), membranous staining also was observed. Stromal CD10 positivity was observed in 29 PETs (32%). In nontumoral pancreatic tissue, the islets were consistently negative. Epithelial cytoplasmic expression of CD10 increased with World Health Organization classification: CD10 was detected in 12% of benign tumors, 29% of tumors of uncertain prognosis, 38% of well-differentiated carcinomas, and 86% of poorly differentiated carcinomas. Membranous expression of CD10 correlated with poor differentiation ( P = .0004). Expression of CD10 also correlated significantly with a high proliferative index ( P = .020), low microvascular density ( P = .043), large tumor size ( P = .023), and presence of metastasis ( P = .013). Expression was associated with poorer survival ( P = .017). No statistical relation was observed between stromal CD10 expression and any of the histopathologic criteria examined. In conclusion, CD10 is expressed in a subset of PETs and correlates with histopathologic indicators of poor outcome, suggesting a role for this molecule in tumorigenesis and prognostic analysis.

CD10 expression by fusiform stromal cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma correlates with tumor progression

CD10 is a cell surface zinc metalloprotease expressed through a variety of normal cell types, including lymphoid precursor cells, germinal center B lymphocytes, and some epithelial cells. Many studies showed that CD10 expression is associated with the tumor progression of a large variety of cancers, such as breast and colorectal carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CD10 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The expression of CD10 was immunohistochemically examined in 47 paraffin embedded NPC biopsies from Tunisian patients compared with 16 reactional nasopharyngeal mucosas. A significant expression of CD10 was observed in stromal fusiform cells in 46.8% of NPC cases but was not in malignant and normal epithelial cells. There was no significant expression of CD10 in control group. The stromal expression of CD10 was more frequently detected in advanced clinical stage than early stage (56 vs 23%; p=0.04) and in patients older than 25 years than in patients under 25 years (56.2 vs 26.5%; p=0.05). Our study is the first in investigating CD10 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and showed that CD10 expression by stromal cells in this malignancy play an important role in tumor progression, particularly in older patients.

CD10, Actin, and Vimentin Expression in Breast Phyllodes Tumors Correlates with Tumor Grades of the WHO Grading System

The discrimination of borderline from malignant primary breast phyllodes (PT) tumor is still unclear. We studied 22 PT cases to investigate the immunohistochemical expression (staining of stromal CD10, SMA [smooth muscle actin], and vimentin) as well as the features of focal glandular atypia to determine whether these correlated with the histopathologic grading system. In our results, the stromal staining of CD10 was positive in 4 of 6 malignant and 2 of 5 borderline PT cases, but negative in all benign PT cases. Stromal actin and intraglandular vimentin-expressive tumor cells were found in 5 of 6 malignant PT cases but not in borderline and benign PT cases. There is a significant difference in the panel of stromal CD10, actin, and vimentin expression between borderline and malignant PT (p<0.05). Besides, the progression of malignant potential breast phyllodes tumor may cause glandular epithelium atypia with loss of polarity.

CD10-positive Stromal Cells in Gastric Carcinoma: Correlation with Invasion and Metastasis

CD10 is a cell surface metalloproteinase expressed by a variety of normal cell types, including lymphoid precursor cells, germinal center B lymphocytes and some epithelial cells. Although accumulating data indicate that CD10 expression by stromal cells is involved in colorectal carcinogenesis and it is a novel prognostic factor in breast carcinoma, CD10-positive stromal cells and their correlation with invasion and metastasis have not been studied in gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to immunohistochemically investigate the rate of CD10 production in the stromal cells in our gastric carcinoma collection and clarify its correlation with invasion and metastasis. One hundred and sixteen cases of gastric carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically using a monoclonal CD10 antibody (clone 56C6). The expression of CD10 by stromal cells was significantly higher in the primary gastric carcinomas than in normal and dysplasia mucosas (P = 0.014). More frequent expression of CD10 by stromal cells was detected in differentiated carcinoma than in undifferentiated carcinoma (P < 0.001). CD10 expression by the stromal cells was associated with depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Stromal CD10 expression was lower in gastric carcinoma without vessel invasion than in those with vessel invasion (P = 0.001). However, no association was observed between stromal CD10 expression and TNM stage. In differentiated carcinoma, stromal CD10 expression was associated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, vessel invasion and TNM stage (P < 0.01). These results indicate that stromal cells expressing CD10 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. CD10 expression by stromal cells seems to promote invasion and metastasis of differentiated gastric carcinoma.

Stromal CD10 expression in mammary fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours

Background/Aims: CD10 (CALLA) has recently been reported to be expressed in spindle cell neoplasia, and has been used to differentiate endometrial stromal sarcoma from leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. In the breast,...

Involvement of Arp2/3 complex in the process of colorectal carcinogenesis

Increased motility is one of the characteristics of cancer cells, and actin polymerization and disassembly are essential for cellular motility. Since actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex acts as a nucleus for actin polymerization, in this study, we immunohistochemically investigated the expression of Arp2 and Arp3 in 175 colorectal tumors in various stages of neoplastic progression. Arp2 and Arp3 showed identical expression patterns, and both were expressed in the stromal cells around neoplastic tubules or glands and in the tumor cells themselves. The frequency of expression of Arp2 and Arp3 (Arp2&3) by the stromal cells increased with the atypia of the colorectal neoplasms, from 5.5% (3/55) in adenoma with mild or moderate atypia, to 11.8% (2/17) in adenoma with severe atypia, 53.3% (16/30) in intramucosal carcinoma, and 91.8% (67/73) in invasive carcinoma (P<0.0001). The frequency of expression of Arp2&3 in the tumor cells was similar and was 1.8% (1/55) in adenoma with mild or moderate atypia, 23.5% (4/17) in adenoma with severe atypia, 23.5% (7/30) in intramucosal carcinoma, and 32.9% (24/73) in invasive carcinoma. Expression of Arp2&3 by the stromal cells was significantly correlated with nuclear accumulation of p53 in the tumor cells and stromal expression of CD10. These results suggest that formation of Arp2/3 complex by both neoplastic and stromal cells contributes to the increased motility of both cell types and thus provides suitable conditions for invasion.

Expression of CD10 by stromal cells during colorectal tumor development

CD10 is a cell surface metalloprotease expressed by a variety of normal cell types, including lymphoid precursor cells, germinal center B lymphocytes, and some epithelial cells. We noticed that stromal cells of some cancers are positive for CD10. In this study, we investigated the role of CD10 produced by the stromal cells of colorectal neoplasms in the progression of colorectal neoplasms. Immunohistochemical examination of CD10 and p53 was performed in 169 colorectal epithelial neoplasms representing various stages of carcinogenesis. The results were correlated with the morphologic characteristics of the neoplasms. There was no expression of CD10 in the stromal cells of normal colorectal tissue. CD10-positive stromal cells were present adjacent to the tumor cells in 16 of 73 adenomas with mild or moderate dysplasia. More frequent expression of CD10 by the stromal cells was detected in adenomas with severe dysplasia (12 of 17), intramucosal carcinomas (10 of 16), and invasive carcinomas (50 of 63) than in adenomas with mild or moderate dysplasia (P < 0.0001). Expression of CD10 by > 10% of the stromal cells was detected only within the area of the invasive growth front of invasive carcinomas, not in adenomas and in only 1 of the intramucosal carcinomas. The difference between invasive and non invasive tumors was significant (P < 0.0001). The stromal expression of CD10 was significantly associated with the accumulation of p53 and a larger tumor size. These results indicate that CD10 expression is an integral part of colorectal carcinogenesis. CD10 expression seems to contribute to the invasion and thus probably facilitates metastasis. HUM PATHOL 33:806-811. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Stromal expression of CD10 in invasive breast carcinoma: a new predictor of clinical outcome.

CD10 is a cell surface neutral endopeptidase that is not consistently expressed in the stromal cells of the normal breast. Expression of CD10 is sometimes observed in the stromal cells of invasive ductal carcinoma, but its clinical significance has never been studied. Immunohistochemical examination of CD10 was performed in 123 cases of breast cancer. The median follow-up period of all patients was 8.0 years, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of stromal CD10 expression. There was no staining in the stromal cells of 13 non-invasive ductal carcinomas or normal breast tissue. Of 110 invasive ductal carcinomas, 20 cases (18%) in which more than 10% of the stromal cells stained positive throughout the cancer tissue were judged "positive". The frequency of positive stromal staining was significantly higher in the cases with axillary lymph-node metastasis ( P=0.038), but there were no correlations between stromal CD10 expression and age, tumor size, histologic grade, or clinical stage. The patients whose tumors contained CD10-positive stromal cells had a shorter metastasis-free interval ( P=0.0008). Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients with lymph-node metastasis also had a significantly shorter metastasis-free interval (metastasis vs no metastasis; P=0.0318). In the multivariate analysis, only CD10 remained a significant predictor for time to recurrence ( P=0.0059), and CD10 was the single significant prognostic factor for overall survival in the univariate analysis ( P=0.0021). These results suggest that stromal expression of CD10 in breast cancer is an important novel prognostic factor.