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A proposed histochemical and electron microscopic classification of human breast cancer according to cell of origin
Author(s) -
Murad Tariq M.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197102)27:2<288::aid-cncr2820270207>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - myoepithelial cell , pathology , carcinoma , breast cancer , cancer , immunohistochemistry , alkaline phosphatase , cytoplasm , cancer cell , ultrastructure , acid phosphatase , biology , medicine , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Thirty‐six cases of breast carcinoma were classified according to their cells of origin using electron microscopy and ultrastructural histochemistry. The study showed that breast cancer can be classified into myoepithelial, ductal epithelial, and ductular epithelial carcinoma. In this study, all cases were easily classifiable except one mixed myoepithelial and ductular type which was classified as ductular carcinoma. Alkaline phosphatase, which is normally present in the myoepithelial cells of normal duct, becomes negative upon neoplastic transformation. Myoepithelial cancer cells retain their adinosine triphosphatase activity, and this behavior was helpful in identifying their cell of origin. Ductular epithelial cancer shows nuclear and free cytoplasmic acid phosphatase, and the significance of this finding was discussed. The study also revealed that carcinoma of ductular origin has a higher eventuality of metastases. Also, it was suggested that ductular carcinoma arises from hormonally sensitive cells, and the possibility of hormonal treatment for this cancer should be studied.