Clinicopathologic features of molecular subtypes of triple negative breast cancer based on immunohistochemical markers

Histol Histopathol. 2012 Nov;27(11):1481-93. doi: 10.14670/HH-27.1481.

Abstract

This study was performed to identify molecular subtypes of triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) based on immunohistochemical markers. We prepared a tissue microarray from TNBC specimens of 122 patients and performed immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin (CK) 5/6, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 7, E-cadherin, androgen receptor (AR), and gammma-glutamyltransferase (GGT1). Based on immunoreactivity, tumors were classified into basal-like (CK5/6 positive and/or EGFR positive), molecular apocrine (AR positive and/or GGT1 positive), claudin low (claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 7 negative and/or E-cadherin negative), mixed (tumors belonging to two or more subtypes), and null (tumors not matching any other subtypes). The TNBC specimens of 122 patients included 27 basal-like (22.1%), 28 claudin low (23.0%), 12 molecular apocrine (9.8%), 23 mixed (18.9%) and 32 null (26.2%) subtype tumors. The molecular apocrine subtype showed the highest percentage of apocrine differentiation and the lowest Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.001 and p=0.040, respectively). In univariate analysis, tumor cell discohesiveness was related with shorter disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.005, and 0.002, respectively). In multivariate analysis, tumor cell discohesiveness was related with shorter OS and CK5/6 positivity (p=0.018), and claudin 7 positivity (p=0.019) was related with shorter DFS. In conclusion, using immunohistochemical staining for CK5/6, EGFR, claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 7, E-cadherin, AR, and GGT1, we categorized TNBC into a basal-like subtype, a claudin low subtype, a molecular apocrine subtype, a mixed subtype showing characteristics of two different subtypes, and a null subtype not belonging to any of the subtypes identified.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Claudins / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratin-5 / metabolism
  • Keratin-6 / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cadherins
  • Claudins
  • Keratin-5
  • Keratin-6
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors