Pattern of oestrogen, progesterone and Her2neu receptors expression in a heterogeneous carcinoma of the breast in a lactating woman

BMJ Case Rep. 2010 Nov 23:2010:bcr0520103008. doi: 10.1136/bcr.05.2010.3008.

Abstract

Oestrogen-progestrone-Her2neu receptor status was studied in various loci/foci of heterogeneous carcinoma of the breast and its metastatic secretory component in the lymph node in a lactating woman. All the carcinoma variants were negative for the trio markers except tumour components evolved to secretory or lactating carcinoma, which showed focal positivity. Findings showed that oestrogenic receptors, progesterone receptors and Her2neu negative primitive carcinoma in a heterogenous breast cancer may evolve into oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2neu positive secretory/lactating carcinoma alongside other receptor negative carcinoma variants. Focal marker positivity/negativity underlined the fact that a diagnostic/prognostic marker status report may account for the tumour area included in the section/sample only. Study of the immune marker expression/status in various loci may help identification of the components, morphogenesis and dynamics of heterogeneous carcinoma of the breast.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast / metabolism*
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lactation / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Receptor, ErbB-2

Supplementary concepts

  • Secretory breast carcinoma