YKL-40 expression in benign and malignant lesions of the breast: a methodologic study

TY - JOUR

T1 - YKL-40 expression in benign and malignant lesions of the breast: a methodologic study

AU - Roslind, Anne

AU - Johansen, Julia S

AU - Junker, Nanna

AU - Nielsen, Dorte Lisbet

AU - Dzaferi, Hanife

AU - Price, Paul A

AU - Balslev, Eva

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Aged; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Female; Formaldehyde; Glycoproteins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Middle Aged; RNA, Messenger; Serum Albumin, Bovine

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Elevated serum levels of the protein YKL-40 are associated with a poor prognosis in patients with solid and hematologic malignancies including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a valid reproducible immunohistochemical method to visualize YKL-40 expression in normal breast tissue as well as in benign and malignant breast lesions. The presence of YKL-40 in breast tissue was verified by in situ hybridization and protein extraction procedures. An immunohistochemical method was developed and 4 different antibodies directed against YKL-40 were tested. Ten patients with normal breast tissue and benign breast lesions and 53 patients with localized breast carcinomas were analyzed immunohistochemically. The presence of YKL-40 in normal epithelial cells as well as in malignant tumor cells of the breast was established; however, a difference in staining intensity and staining pattern was observed. In normal breast tissue, a weak YKL-40 immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells with an additional strong dotlike staining between the nucleus and the gland lumen. In malignant lesions, 81% of the in situ carcinomas and 64% of the invasive carcinomas showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic YKL-40 immunoreactivity. No nuclear and membrane staining was found. A subpopulation of cells of macrophage morphology in normal breast tissue and in malignant lesions showed strong YKL-40 immunoreactivity.

AB - Elevated serum levels of the protein YKL-40 are associated with a poor prognosis in patients with solid and hematologic malignancies including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a valid reproducible immunohistochemical method to visualize YKL-40 expression in normal breast tissue as well as in benign and malignant breast lesions. The presence of YKL-40 in breast tissue was verified by in situ hybridization and protein extraction procedures. An immunohistochemical method was developed and 4 different antibodies directed against YKL-40 were tested. Ten patients with normal breast tissue and benign breast lesions and 53 patients with localized breast carcinomas were analyzed immunohistochemically. The presence of YKL-40 in normal epithelial cells as well as in malignant tumor cells of the breast was established; however, a difference in staining intensity and staining pattern was observed. In normal breast tissue, a weak YKL-40 immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells with an additional strong dotlike staining between the nucleus and the gland lumen. In malignant lesions, 81% of the in situ carcinomas and 64% of the invasive carcinomas showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic YKL-40 immunoreactivity. No nuclear and membrane staining was found. A subpopulation of cells of macrophage morphology in normal breast tissue and in malignant lesions showed strong YKL-40 immunoreactivity.

U2 - 10.1097/01.pai.0000213146.77772.6a

DO - 10.1097/01.pai.0000213146.77772.6a

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18091378

SN - 1541-2016

VL - 15

SP - 371

EP - 381

JO - Applied Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Morphology

JF - Applied Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Morphology

IS - 4

ER -