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Invasive breast cancer: a significant correlation between histological types and molecular subgroups

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Abstract

Introduction

The special types of breast cancer seem to have not only distinct morphological features but also distinct biological features.

Materials and methods

Women diagnosed with a first primary invasive breast cancer in the 2004–2005 period were identified through Tuscan Cancer Registry. Information on age, tumor size, lymph node status, histological type and grade, hormonal receptors, HER2 immunohistochemical expression were collected. Five subtypes were defined: luminal A, luminal B HER2+, luminal B HER2−, triple negative, and HER2 positive. The association between the histological type and molecular subgroups was assessed by a Fisher’s exact test, and a multinomial logistic regression model was used.

Results

Out of 1,487 patients, 34 % were luminal A subtype, 25 % luminal B HER2−, 11 % luminal B HER2+, 19 % triple negative, and 10.2 % HER2+; 58.5 % of cancers were ductal NOS types. With luminal A as reference, histological types distribution was significantly different between the subgroups. Mucinous, tubular, and cribriform histotypes were found among luminal A cancers more than in other subgroups; all medullary carcinomas were triple negative cancers. Pathological stage at diagnosis was more advanced, and histological grade was lower among subgroups other than luminal A.

Conclusions

Significant association between breast cancer histotypes and molecular subgroups was found.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Descriptive Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Study and Cancer Prevention (ISPO), Via delle Oblate 2, 50141, Florence, Italy

    A. Caldarella, C. Buzzoni, E. Crocetti & E. Paci

  2. Section of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    S. Bianchi & V. Vezzosi

  3. Anatomic Pathology, Pistoia Hospital, Pistoia, Italy

    P. Apicella

  4. Pathological Anatomy, S. Giuseppe Hospital, Empoli, Italy

    M. Biancalani

  5. Anatomic Pathology, Misericordia e Dolce Hospital, Prato, Italy

    A. Giannini

  6. Anatomic Pathology, S. M. Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy

    C. Urso

  7. Anatomic Pathology, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence, Italy

    F. Zolfanelli

Authors
  1. A. Caldarella
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  2. C. Buzzoni
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  3. E. Crocetti
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  4. S. Bianchi
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  5. V. Vezzosi
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  6. P. Apicella
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  7. M. Biancalani
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  8. A. Giannini
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  9. C. Urso
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  10. F. Zolfanelli
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  11. E. Paci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Caldarella.

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Caldarella, A., Buzzoni, C., Crocetti, E. et al. Invasive breast cancer: a significant correlation between histological types and molecular subgroups. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 139, 617–623 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-012-1365-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-012-1365-1

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