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01-10-2005 | Original Article

Immunohistochemical study of androgen receptors in breast carcinoma. Evidence of their frequent expression in lobular carcinoma

Authors: Cristina Riva, Emanuele Dainese, Giacomo Caprara, Paolo Cossu Rocca, Giovanni Massarelli, Tibor Tot, Carlo Capella, Vincenzo Eusebi

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 4/2005

Abstract

Androgens and androgen receptors (AR) are involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between the risk of breast cancer and androgens. However, the functional role and clinical value of AR expression in breast carcinoma have still not been clearly defined. The present study was set up to investigate the prevalence of ARs in a series of consecutive invasive breast carcinomas (IBCs) and to evaluate the patterns of AR phenotypes in a series of selected invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs). Among the 250 consecutive IBCs (consisting of 212 ductal and 38 lobular neoplasms), AR immunoreactivity was observed in 151/250 (60.4%) cases, being expressed in 118/212 (56%) ductal and 33/38 (87%) lobular carcinomas (a statistically significant difference, χ²=11.82). AR expression was frequently associated with ER (65.2%, χ²=14.33) and PR positivity (66.9%, χ²=7.36). Most AR positive cases showed a low proliferative index (63.7%) and a low or intermediate histological grade (G1–G2, 63.9%). Among the 80 selected ILCs, AR expression was observed in 64/80 (80%) cases. Our results confirm that ARs are expressed in most breast cancers. Moreover, we demonstrated that AR positivity is particularly marked in lobular neoplasms. In addition, AR positive carcinomas are frequently characterized by a low or intermediate grade, a low proliferative index and ER and/or PR co-expression.

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Title: Immunohistochemical study of androgen receptors in breast carcinoma. Evidence of their frequent expression in lobular carcinoma
Authors: Cristina Riva
Emanuele Dainese
Giacomo Caprara
Paolo Cossu Rocca
Giovanni Massarelli
Tibor Tot
Carlo Capella
Vincenzo Eusebi
Publication date: 01-10-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Virchows Archiv / Issue 4/2005
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-005-0003-6

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Immunohistochemical study of androgen receptors in breast carcinoma. Evidence of their frequent expression in lobular carcinoma

Abstract

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