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C-kit overexpression correlates with KIT gene copy numbers increases in phyllodes tumors of the breast

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Abstract

We determined c-kit expression in the stroma and epithelia of benign, borderline, and malignant phyllodes tumors (PTs), respectively, as well as the relationship between c-kit expression in stromal elements and KIT gene copy number variations (CNVs). To assess c-kit expression and KIT CNVs, 348 PT cases were studied: 120 (34.4 %) benign cases, 115 (33.1 %) borderline cases, and 113 (32.5 %) malignant cases. All of these cases were evaluated for c-kit (CD117) expression using immunohistochemistry. Forty-two cases (29 c-kit-positive in the stromal cells cases and 13 negative cases) were investigated for KIT gene CNVs via genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall rate of c-kit positivity in the stroma was 46.8 %, as well as 24.2, 53.1, and 64.6 %, respectively, in PTs of three different grades. However, in the majority of cases, the epithelia were c-kit positive (98.2 %), and the positivity was 100, 99.1, and 95 % in PTs of three different grades, respectively. There was a significant change in the expression of c-kit in the stroma and epithelia according to grade (P < 0.001, P = 0.014). From the genomic PCR results, we can confirm that c-kit positivity in the stroma is directly correlated with KIT gene copy numbers increases (P = 0.003, P = 0.041). We demonstrated that c-kit expression in the stroma of PTs is positively associated with malignancy. c-Kit epithelial positivity was inversely correlated with PTs malignancy. c-Kit overexpression in the stroma was related to KIT gene copy numbers increases.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National Science Foundation of China (81172532, 81470119). The authors gratefully acknowledge Mrs. Xiumin Ding and Ying Wang for technical assistance.

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There are no potential conflicts of interest.

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The experiments comply with the current laws.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Cancer Pathology and Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, West Huanhu Road, Ti Yuan Bei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, China

    Junjun Liu, Xiaozhen Liu, Xiaolong Feng, Jian Liu, Shuhua Lv, Wei Zhang & Yun Niu

  2. Department of Pathology, Nankai University Affiliated Hospital, 190, Jie-Yuan Road, Hong Qiao District, Tianjin, 300121, China

    Shuhua Lv

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  1. Junjun Liu
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  2. Xiaozhen Liu
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  3. Xiaolong Feng
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  4. Jian Liu
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  5. Shuhua Lv
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  6. Wei Zhang
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  7. Yun Niu
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Correspondence to Yun Niu.

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Liu, J., Liu, X., Feng, X. et al. C-kit overexpression correlates with KIT gene copy numbers increases in phyllodes tumors of the breast. Breast Cancer Res Treat 149, 395–401 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-3214-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-3214-1

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