Apolipoprotein D expression in metastasic lymph nodes of breast cancer

• Published in: International journal of surgical investigation Vol. 2; no. 4; p. 285
• Main Authors: Lamelas, M L, Vázquez, J, Enguita, M I, Rodríguez, J C, González, L O, Merino, A M, Vizoso, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 2000
• Subjects: Apolipoproteins - metabolism; Apolipoproteins D; Axilla; Biomarkers - analysis; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - mortality; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - mortality; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - secondary; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Survival Rate; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1028-5229

Apolipoprotein D is a glycoprotein of the human plasma whose functional role remains unclear. On the other hand, this protein is also produced by breast carcinomas and is positively associated with a favorable outcome of patients. However, none study has focused on metastasic lesions.
To analyze apolipoprotein D expression in breast cancer patients and their synchronous metastasic axillary lymph nodes.
We analyzed by immunohistochemical assay both, the tumoral expression of apolipoprotein D in primary tumors and in their synchronous metastasic axillary lymph nodes of 30 node-positive breast cancer patients.
Of the primary tumors, 28 (93.3%) showed a positive immunostaining for apolipoprotein D, although there was wide variability immunostaining values. On the other hand, 16 (53.3%) patients showed a positive immunostaining for the protein in their tumoral lymph nodes. In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between the tumoral expression of apolipoprotein D in primary tumors and metastasic lymph nodes (P < 0.05). However, only immunostaining values of the protein in primary tumors achieve statistical signification (P < 0.05) as prognostic factor of favorable evolution to predict overall survival from patients.
Apolipoprotein D is also expressed in metastasic lymph nodes of breast carcinomas, but with a different pattern of immunostaining and less clinical significance than in primary tumors.