Associations of epithelial c-kit expression in phyllodes tumours of the breast. Issue 10 (8th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tawasil, John; Go, Edna May L; Tsang, Julia Y S; Ni, Yun-Bi; Ko, Chun-Wai; Tse, Gary M
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 68:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 808
• Page End: 811
• Publication Date: 2015-06-08
• Subjects: BREAST PATHOLOGY -- IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY -- c-kit expression; Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2015-202921
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Mammary phyllodes tumours (PT) are rare biphasic neoplasms but have important clinical significance. Both epithelial and stromal components participate in PT development. Despite a number of studies on stromal c-kit in PT, little is known about the role of its epithelial expression. Objective: To further evaluate the stromal and epithelial expression of c-kit in a cohort of patients with PT. Method and results: Expression of c-kit in both epithelial and stromal components was examined and correlated with histological features in PT. Stromal c-kit expression was associated positively with stromal cellularity (median expression=10.0, 30.0 and 50.0 from mild to severe cellularity; p=0.019). Conversely, a significant negative trend between epithelial c-kit expression with stromal pleomorphism (median expression=55.0, 30.0 and 2.5 from mild to severe pleomorphism; p=0.043) and mitosis (median expression=70.0 and 20.0 for low and high mitosis respectively; p=0.003); and a trend of negative correlation with increased PT grade was found. Despite these reverse associations, epithelial and stromal c-kit expressions were positively correlated with each other. Notably, the correlation of stromal c-kit expression with malignant histological features appeared to be stronger in cases with low epithelial c-kit expression but not in those with high epithelial c-kit expression. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the association of epithelial c-kit expression with stromal histological features and stromal c-kit. Interestingly, epithelial c-kit expression affected the strength of the correlation of stromal c-kit with these histological features. These findings provide further evidence of the interaction between the epithelial and stromal components in PT.