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The prognostic significance of tumor-associated stroma in invasive breast carcinoma

  • Research Article
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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Fibroblasts in the stromal component of a tumor may influence tumor progression in various organs. The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is also frequently reported. However, the prognostic significance of the stromal component in breast cancers, particularly those of high grade, has not been established. In this study, we analyzed surgically resected specimens from 545 patients with breast carcinoma, including 193 high-grade tumors, for tumor–stroma ratio, dominant stroma type [collagen (C), fibroblast (F), or lymphocyte (L) dominant type], and central fibrosis on hematoxylin–eosin-stained histological sections. We correlated these features with clinical prognosis. Among the 533 specimens examined, 127 (23.3 %) were of C type, 292 (53.6 %) of F type, and 114 (20.9 %) of L type. Central fibrosis was found in 99 tumors (18 %). The dominant stroma type was a significant prognostic factor on univariate and multivariate analyses, together with T classification, nodal status, and Bloom–Richardson grade. Tumor–stroma ratio and central fibrosis did not predict survival on multivariate analysis. Even in high-grade tumors, relapse-free intervals differed significantly according to dominant stroma type. Thus, conventional hematoxylin–eosin-stained tumor slides may contain more prognostic information than previously thought; in particular, the dominant stroma type in invasive breast cancer may potentially be used to predict outcome.

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Abbreviations

DFS:

Disease-free survival

ER:

Estrogen receptor

PR:

Progesterone receptor

DFI:

Disease-free interval

OS:

Overall survival

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Samsung Biomedical Research Institute grant, #SBRI C-B0-319-2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea

    Soomin Ahn, Junhun Cho, Jiyoun Sung, Kyoung-Mee Kim & Eun Yoon Cho

  2. Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Jeong Eon Lee & Seok Jin Nam

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  1. Soomin Ahn
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  2. Junhun Cho
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  3. Jiyoun Sung
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  4. Jeong Eon Lee
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  6. Kyoung-Mee Kim
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  7. Eun Yoon Cho
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Correspondence to Eun Yoon Cho.

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Ahn, S., Cho, J., Sung, J. et al. The prognostic significance of tumor-associated stroma in invasive breast carcinoma. Tumor Biol. 33, 1573–1580 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0411-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0411-6

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