Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
PLoS One. 2020 Aug 28;15(8):e0238466. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238466. eCollection 2020.
Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are biphasic tumors accounting for 0.3-1.5% of all breast tumors. Epithelial membrane proteins (EMPs) have been reported in various malignant tumors but their expression in PTs is unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of EMP1, EMP2, and EMP3 in breast phyllodes tumors (PTs), and to investigate their clinical implications.
In total, 185 PTs were used for constructing a tissue microarray. Immunohistochemical staining for EMP1, EMP2, and EMP3 was performed, and the results were analyzed along with the clinicopathologic parameters.
In total, 185 PTs were included in this study, and comprised 138 benign, 32 borderline, and 15 malignant PTs. In malignant PTs, the epithelial component showed decreased expression of EMP1 (P = 0.027), EMP2 (P = 0.004), and EMP3 (P = 0.032), compared to the benign and borderline PTs. Conversely, stromal component of borderline and malignant PTs showed higher expression of EMP1 (P = 0.027), EMP2 (P = 0.004), and EMP3 (P = 0.032) compared to benign PTs. Expression of EMP1 and EMP3 correlated positively with stromal cellularity and cellular atypia (P < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, stromal EMP3 was associated with shorter disease-free survival (P < 0.001), and shorter overall survival (P = 0.034).
The expression of EMP1, EMP2, and EMP3 is decreased in the epithelial component and is increased in the stromal component of PT with higher histologic grade. Thus, stromal EMP3 expression may serve as an independent prognostic factor in PT.
叶状肿瘤(PTs)是一种双相肿瘤,占所有乳腺肿瘤的 0.3-1.5%。上皮膜蛋白(EMPs)已在各种恶性肿瘤中报道,但它们在 PTs 中的表达尚不清楚。在本研究中,我们旨在评估 EMP1、EMP2 和 EMP3 在乳腺叶状肿瘤(PTs)中的表达,并探讨其临床意义。
共使用 185 例 PT 构建组织微阵列。进行 EMP1、EMP2 和 EMP3 的免疫组织化学染色,并分析与临床病理参数的关系。
本研究共纳入 185 例 PT,包括 138 例良性、32 例交界性和 15 例恶性。在恶性 PT 中,上皮成分中 EMP1(P = 0.027)、EMP2(P = 0.004)和 EMP3(P = 0.032)的表达降低,与良性和交界性 PT 相比。相反,交界性和恶性 PT 的间质成分表现出更高的 EMP1(P = 0.027)、EMP2(P = 0.004)和 EMP3(P = 0.032)的表达,与良性 PT 相比。EMP1 和 EMP3 的表达与基质细胞密度和细胞异型性呈正相关(P < 0.001)。在单因素分析中,间质 EMP3 与无病生存期较短(P < 0.001)和总生存期较短(P = 0.034)相关。
在组织学分级较高的 PT 中,上皮成分中的 EMP1、EMP2 和 EMP3 表达降低,而间质成分中的表达增加。因此,间质 EMP3 的表达可能是 PT 的独立预后因素。