Evaluating the utility of trefoil factor 1 as a mammary-specific immunostain compared and in conjunction with GATA-3 and mammaglobin in the distinction between carcinoma of breast and lung

Am J Clin Pathol. 2015 Sep;144(3):444-51. doi: 10.1309/AJCPC7FA3IHYPEPF.

Abstract

Objectives: The distinction between metastatic breast carcinomas (BCs) and primary lung carcinomas (PLCs) can be difficult. This study tested the utility of trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) for this purpose and compared it with mammaglobin and GATA protein binding 3 (GATA-3).

Methods: Tissue microarrays containing 365 BCs and 338 PLCs were stained with TFF1, mammaglobin, and GATA-3, and an H-score was calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated, and logistical regression analysis was performed.

Results: Accuracy of correctly classifying the tumor type was 81.9%, 71.3%, and 64.0% for GATA-3, mammaglobin, and TFF1, respectively. Odds ratios for selecting BCs were 25.69, 93.15, and 4.17, respectively, with P values less than .001. With a single exception, the best immunopanel included GATA-3 and mammaglobin in all comparisons.

Conclusions: TFF1 demonstrated breast specificity but was inferior to mammaglobin and GATA-3. Therefore, its routine clinical use may not be justified. TFF1 showed little benefit when added to an immunopanel.

Keywords: Breast; Carcinoma; GATA-3; Immunohistochemistry; Lung; Mammaglobin; Metastatic; Trefoil factor 1.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mammaglobin A / metabolism*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Trefoil Factor-1
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Mammaglobin A
  • TFF1 protein, human
  • Trefoil Factor-1
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins