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Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma of the breast: role of comprehensive molecular pathology in characterization of an entity
Author(s) -
ReisFilho Jorge S,
Simpson Pete T,
Jones Chris,
Steele Dawn,
Mackay Alan,
Iravani Marjan,
Fenwick Kerry,
Valgeirsson Haukur,
Lambros Maryou,
Ashworth Alan,
Palacios Jose,
Schmitt Fernando,
Lakhani Sunil R
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1806
Subject(s) - lobular carcinoma , pathology , invasive lobular carcinoma , ductal carcinoma , immunohistochemistry , carcinoma , comparative genomic hybridization , in situ hybridization , carcinoma in situ , in situ , pathological , biology , medicine , breast cancer , cancer , chromosome , invasive ductal carcinoma , gene , biochemistry , gene expression , physics , meteorology
Abstract Immunohistochemical analysis of E‐cadherin has changed the way lobular neoplasia is perceived. It has helped to classify difficult cases of carcinoma in situ with indeterminate features and led to the identification of new variants of lobular carcinoma. Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma (PLC) and pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ (PLCIS), recently described variants of invasive and in situ classic lobular carcinoma, are reported to be associated with more aggressive clinical behaviour. Although PLC/PLCIS show morphological features of classic lobular neoplasia and lack E‐cadherin expression, it is still unclear whether these lesions evolve through the same genetic pathway as lobular carcinomas or are high‐grade ductal neoplasms that have lost E‐cadherin. Here we have analysed a case of extensive PLCIS and invasive PLC associated with areas of E‐cadherin‐negative carcinoma in situ with indeterminate features, using immunohistochemistry, chromogenic in situ hybridization, high‐resolution comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and array‐based CGH. We observed that all lesions lacked E‐cadherin and β‐catenin and showed gain of 1q and loss of 16q, features that are typical of lobular carcinomas but are not seen in high‐grade ductal lesions. In addition, amplifications of c‐myc and HER2 were detected in the pleomorphic components, which may account for the high‐grade features in this case and the reported aggressive clinical behaviour of these lesions. Taken together, these data suggest that at least some PLCs may evolve from the same precursor or through the same genetic pathway as classic lobular carcinomas. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.