CDX-2, MUC-2 and B-catenin as intestinal markers in pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast

• Laura García-Labastida ^[1] ; Raquel Garza-Guajardo ^[1] ; Oralia Barboza-Quintana ^[1] ; Irám Pablo Rodríguez-Sanchez ^[1] ; Jesús Ancer-Rodríguez ^[1] ; Juan Pablo Flores-Gutierrez ^[1] ; Gabriela Sofía Gómez-Macías ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

     Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

     México

     
• Localización: Biological Research, ISSN-e 0717-6287, ISSN 0716-9760, Nº. 47, 2014
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • BACKGROUND: Pure mucinous adenocarcinoma of the breast is a rare entity characterized by the production of variable amounts of mucin comprising 1% to 6% of breast carcinomas. Some mucinous adenocarcinomas have shown expression of intestinal differentiation markers such as MUC-2. This study examines the expression of intestinal differentiation markers in this type of breast carcinoma. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases of pure mucinous adenocarcinoma of the breast were assessed. Immunochemistry was performed for beta-catenin, CDX-2 and MUC-2. All cases were positive for B-catenin. MUC-2 positivity was observed in all cases; 63. 6% were 3 plus positive. All cases were negative for CDX-2. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mucinous breast carcinomas express some markers of intestinal differentiation, such as MUC-2 and beta-catenin; however, future studies with a larger series of cases and using molecular techniques that help affirm these results are needed.