Invasive Breast Carcinoma with Abundant Collagenous Stroma Shows Lower Level of CD68-Positive Tumor Associated Macrophages than Those of Invasive Carcinoma without Abundant Collagenous Stroma

• Published in: Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis Vol. 92; no. 5; p. e2021254
• Main Authors: Kelten Talu, Canan, Hacihasanoglu, Ezgi, Leblebici, Cem, Nazli, Mehmet Ali, Arslan, Esra, Can Trabulus, Didem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Mattioli 1885 03.11.2021
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Female; Humans; Original; Retrospective Studies; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumor-Associated Macrophages
• ISSN: 0392-4203; 2531-6745
• DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92i5.10954

The significance of association between cancer and its stromal microenvironment has been recognized. We aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical staining features of D2-40 (podoplanin), SMA (smooth muscle actin) and CD68 (pan-macrophage marker) in patients with early stage invasive breast cancer with/out peritumoral PASH-like stroma. The H&E sections of core needle biopsy specimens of invasive breast carcinomas diagnosed during one-year time period were reviewed in terms of the presence of accompanying PASH-like stroma retrospectively. Cases with similar pattern of growth in their surgical excision materials were included. Eight cases were grouped as 'Invasive tumor with PASH-like stroma' and 21 cases as 'Invasive tumor without PASH-like stroma', consecutively. The results of immunohistochemical staining for D2-40, SMA and CD68 were noted semiquantitatively as 'negative','weak', moderate' or 'strong'. CD68 was found significantly lower in invasive tumor with peritumoral PASH-like stroma than those of tumor without PASH-like stroma. No significant differences were found for SMA and D2-40 between two groups.  Conclusions: Tumor-associated macrophages (CD68 positive) in tumor stroma have been demonstrated in association with tumor behavior in several studies. The presence of peritumoral PASH-like stroma, which is poorly staining for CD68, might be a morphological clue for the behavior of tumor.