Immunostaining patterns of myoepithelial cells in breast lesions: a comparison of CD10 and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have reported CD10 expression in myoepithelial cells (MEC) of the breast, supporting its use as a marker to help distinguish invasive breast carcinoma (IC) from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Aim: To compare the effectiveness of CD10 with smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) in the detection of MEC in benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods: Histological material from 25 patients with DCIS and 21 with IC were immunostained for CD10 and SMMHC. Staining was scored on a scale of 0 to 3+ (0, no staining; 3+, intense) and the staining distribution was documented as focal, partial, or circumferential. Results: Uniform, 3+ circumferential CD10 and SMMHC staining of MEC was seen in normal breast ducts and lobules, and in ducts and acini involved in sclerosing adenosis and apocrine metaplasia. In an analysis of total ducts involved by DCIS, 3+ circumferential staining was seen in 65 of 366 ducts (17.7%) stained for CD10 versus 190 of 396 ducts (48%) stained for SMMHC. MEC were not detected immunohistochemically in 116 of 366 ducts (31.7%) with anti-CD10 and 50 of 396 (12.7%) with anti-SMMHC. In contrast, all ICs were negative for both CD10 and SMMHC. Focal background staining of stromal myofibroblasts was seen with both CD10 and SMMHC, but CD10 showed a higher rate of nonspecific staining of epithelial cells. Conclusion: Although CD10 can aid in the distinction between IC and DCIS, SMMHC is a more sensitive and specific marker of MEC and shows less heterogeneity of immunostaining patterns.

Comparative Immunohistochemical Study of P63, SMA, CD10 and Calponin in Distinguishing In Situ from Invasive Breast Carcinoma

“…This finding is in accordance with werling et al who reported P63 as the most sensitive and specific myoepithelial marker with only a disadvantage of interrupted attaining pattern [11]. Kalof et al also reported that SMMHC is more sensitive marker for myoepithelial cells than CD10 [15]. In concordance with Cheryl et al two immunohistochemical myoepithelial markers should be used specially in papillary breast lesions, and they suggested either Calponin with SMMHC or with P63 because they are the most sensitive myoepthelial markers [10].…”

Stromal CD10 expression in invasive breast carcinoma correlates with poor prognosis, estrogen receptor negativity, and high grade

“…5,6 CD10 positivity has also been reported in stromal myoepithelial cells from normal breast tissue and benign myoepithelial tumors. 3,[7][8][9] Several reports indicated that stromal CD10 expression is associated with biological aggressiveness in various epithelial malignancies. 2,5,10,11 In gastric carcinoma CD10-positive stroma correlates with vascular invasion and metastasis.…”

Clinical Significance of CD10 Expression in Cancer

“…Recent studies have shown strong correlations between CD10 expression in stromal cells and stage of disease. CD10 expression is only physiologically present in the stromal myoepithelial cells of normal breast tissue [10][11][12]. In case of invasive breast carcinoma, the CD10 expression in stromal cells surrounding the infiltrating tumor cells was observed 6.…”