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Expression of cytokeratin and erbB‐2 oncoprotein in Paget's disease of the nipple
Author(s) -
HAERSLEV TORBEN,
JACOBSEN CRETE KRAG
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1992.tb04038.x
Subject(s) - cytokeratin , immunohistochemistry , pathology , antigen , monoclonal antibody , biology , antibody , medicine , immunology
The occurrence of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), low molecular weight cytokeratin (CK) and erbB‐2 oncoprotein was investigated in twenty‐eight cases of Paget's disease of the nipple (PD) to determine their diagnostic usefulness. The ABC technique with monoclonal antibodies was used on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue. The Paget's cells showed positive immunoreactivity for all three antigens investigated in a high percentage of PD. Immunoreactivity for CK and erbB‐2 oncoprotein was restricted to the Paget's cells, whereas EMA in some cases also stained the adjacent keratinocytes. Since CK and/or erbB‐2 oncoprotein occurred in 93% of the cases, we conclude that demonstration of both antigens is useful in the diagnosis of PD. ErbB‐2 oncoprotein was also found to be expressed in a high percentage of the underlying intraductal and invasive carcinomas.