Journal article
Androgen receptor in breast cancer: expression in estrogen receptor-positive tumors and in estrogen receptor-negative tumors with apocrine differentiation
Modern pathology, v 23(2), pp 205-212
01 Feb 2010
PMID: 19898421
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Abstract
Androgens exert growth inhibitory effects on estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer cell lines that show androgen receptor expression. These laboratory findings may be translated into inexpensive alternative therapies for hormone receptor-negative invasive breast cancers. Our aim was to systematically evaluate androgen receptor expression by immunohistochemistry in invasive breast cancers. Androgen receptor (clone AR441, Dako) expression was analyzed on 189 well-characterized consecutive invasive breast carcinomas represented with threefold redundancy on tissue microarrays. Androgen receptor expression was semi-quantitated using a histochemical score-like method and a score > 10 was considered positive. Of the 189 consecutive invasive breast cancers, 151 (80%) were positive and 38 (20%) were negative for androgen receptor. The majority (95%) of estrogen receptor-positive tumors were also androgen receptor positive. Of the estrogen receptor-negative tumors, androgen receptor reactivity was seen in 3 of 30 (10%) triple-negative cases and in 5/8 (63%) estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative/HER2+ cases. Six of eight estrogen receptor-negative/androgen receptor-positive cases showed apocrine differentiation. Androgen receptor expression in estrogen receptor-positive cases was associated with smaller tumor size (P=0.0001), lower Nottingham grade (P=0.002) and less frequent tumor cell necrosis (P=0.0001). Androgen receptor expression in estrogen receptor-negative tumors was associated with lower Nottingham grade (P=0.005) and apocrine differentiation (P=0.039). In conclusion, most estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors also express androgen receptor. Androgen receptor expression in estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone receptor-negative/HER2+ tumors (which commonly show apocrine differentiation) and a subset of triple - negative apocrine tumors suggest that these tumors together comprises the 'molecular apocrine' group described previously. However, these findings should be further confirmed on larger series of triple-negative and estrogen negative/progesterone negative/HER2+ tumors. Androgen receptor-targeted therapy in estrogen/progesterone receptor-negative tumors may provide an inexpensive alternative to usual high-dose chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab. Modern Pathology (2010) 23, 205-212; doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2009.159; published online 6 November 2009
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Details
- Title
- Androgen receptor in breast cancer: expression in estrogen receptor-positive tumors and in estrogen receptor-negative tumors with apocrine differentiation
- Creators
- Leo A. Niemeier - University of PittsburghDavid J. Dabbs - University of PittsburghSushil Beriwal - University of PittsburghJoan M. Striebel - University of PittsburghRohit Bhargava - University of Pittsburgh
- Publication Details
- Modern pathology, v 23(2), pp 205-212
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 8
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Radiation Oncology (and Nuclear Medicine)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000274233100006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-76349117455
- Other Identifier
- 991021897254904721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Pathology