c-kit immunohistochemical expression in breast carcinomas and lymph node metastasis. Lack of prognostical significance and review of literature
Keywords:
c-kit, Breast carcinomas, ImmunohistochemistryAbstract
Objective: To evaluate the expression of c-kit in breast invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and metastasis to lymph nodes considering epithelial and stromal components separately and correlate
this variable to others clinical, pathological and biological markers (EGFR, Her-2, ER, PR, Ki-67
and p53 expression). Methods: We analysed 80 IDC, stage T2-T4 Nx Mx, in TMA of epithelial, stromal component and lymph nodes. Statistical analysis considered significant a p value
< 5%. Results: c-kit expression was founded in 9 cases in epithelial component (11.3%) and in 10 cases (12.5%) of stromal component. The 43 samples of lymph nodes metastasis were negative. EGFR
and Her-2 were predominantly negative, both in epithelial (77.5% and 73.75%, respectively), as stromal (97.5% and 95.0%) components and metastasis to lymph nodes (83.7% and 62.8%). While
ER, PR, Ki-67 and p53 were positive in 49 (61.0%), 40 (53.0%), 67 (83.75%) and 59 cases (73.75%)
in the epithelial component. Stromal cells have proved negatives. c-kit epithelial expression correlated
to presence of in situ component (p = 0.044) and stromal c-kit expression correlated to presence of
necrosis (p = 0.002). There was no association between c-kit expression and staging and biological
markers. Transformed epithelial cells at the lymph nodes metastasis stained for ER, PR, Ki-67 and
p53 in 27 (62.8%), 16 (37.5%), 41 (95.0%) and 28 cases (65.1%), respectively. Conclusions: The expression of c-kit is mostly negative in primary IDC both in the epithelial and stromal component,
as well as in lymph node metastasis. The lack of correlation between c-kit and others tyrosine kinase
proteins suggest that they are independently regulated. Metastasis for lymph nodes were not c-kit positive and further studies of mutations of c-kit and his family, correlate with other prognostic factors
and survival required to reveal the exact mechanism of action of this molecule in breast cancer.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fiorita G. L. Mundim, Angela F. Logullo, Miriam F. B. Engelman, Suely Nonogaki, Luciana Logullo, Fernando Augusto Soares
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