ISSN:
1432-2307
Keywords:
Tenascin
;
Breast carcinoma
;
Immunohistochemistry
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Eighty-two cases of primary invasive breast carcinoma and adjacent “normal” mammary glands were examined immunohistochemically for tenascin expression and distribution. Formalin-fixed tissues pretreated with actinase were processed by the avidin-biotin complex method using anti-human tenascin monoclonal antibody (RBC1). In normal mammary glands, tenascin was distributed around the ducts and ductules but not around the acini. In carcinomas, a high incidence of tenascin-positive cases (〉67%) was seen with various histological appearances, with the exception of lobular carcinoma where a low incidence was found (25%). Although intense staining was seen around cancerous foci when compared with normal mammary glands, tenascin was often expressed at cancer-mesenchymal junctions with dense fibrotic stroma, but not at junctions with active inflammatory change and a loose fibrotic stroma. Tenascin expression is not an all-or-none marker for mammary malignancy and the staining pattern suggests either a role in stimulating cancer cells or a host defence mechanism accompanied by a desmoplastic response to them.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01607139
