Quantitative Analysis of Mast Cells in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions

Abstract

Background: It has been reported that the number of mast cells was significantly greater in malignant breast carcinomas than in benign breast lesions. This was due to tryptase-containing mast cells while tryptase, chymase-containing mast cells had no effect. However, analysis of mast cells in breast carcinomas and benign breast lesions based on their histological findings remains to be elucidated. Methods: Using immunohistochemical methods morphological examinations of mast cells were undertaken in benign and malignant breast tissues from 51 patients (30 benign, 21 malignant), which were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. In the study with malignant breast tissues, samples of malignant tissues and adjacent healthy tissues were obtained from a single patient, and the number of mast cells was compared. Results: Among benign breast tissues, the number of mast cells in intracanalicular fibroadenoma was significantly lower than that in pericanalicular fibroadenoma as well as that in mastopathy. The number of mast cells was significantly greater in malignant lesions than that in benign lesions. The number of mast cells in scirrhous carcinoma and that in solid-tubular carcinoma were significantly increased compared with that in adjacent healthy tissues. In addition, the number of mast cells in scirrhous carcinoma was highest among breast carcinomas, and significantly greater than that in papillotubular carcinoma. Conclusion: We were the first to find the significant lower number of mast cells in intracanalicular breast fibroadenoma when compared with that in pericanalicular fibroadenoma as well as that in mastopathy. Moreover, the number of mast cells in scirrhous carcinoma was significantly greater than that in papillotubular carcinoma.

The associations between mast cell infiltration, clinical features and molecular types of invasive breast cancer

“…Our paired intervention study showed that MDC was significantly higher in patients after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, this phenomenon could be explained by the inherent role of mast cell in the immune response, that is, chemotherapy may induce tissue damage, and high density of mast cell in tissue after chemotherapy is important for tissue repair. HER-2 is also a key molecule participates in breast cancer and max diameter of cancer and lymph node metastasis were reported to be associated with breast cancer [22, 25]. It is interesting that our data showed that mast cell infiltration is not associated with these factors.…”

“…Some scholars believe that the higher the density of mast cells in the breast cancer tissue, the worse the prognosis. Kashiwase et al found that, mast cell density was higher in invasive breast cancer and in breast carcinoma with poor differentiation and poor prognosis than that in fibroadenoma and tubular carcinoma and papillary carcinoma with good prognosis [22]. Some other scholars hold opposing views, they believe that mast cell infiltration suggest the good prognosis of breast cancer.…”

Mast Cell Tryptase Contributes to Pancreatic Cancer Growth through Promoting Angiogenesis via Activation of Angiopoietin-1

“…Recent studies indicated that mast cells (MCs) are involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix degradation, immune response and tumor angiogenesis via releasing numerous bioactive substances such as pro-angiogenic factors, including vascular fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and some non-classical pro-angiogenic factors, for example tryptase [ 7 , 8 ]. Kankkunen et al found that there were significantly more tryptase-containing MCs in malignant breast carcinomas compared to benign lesions, suggesting that MC density is correlated with the extent of tumor growth by promoting angiogenesis [ 9 , 10 ]. Meanwhile, MCs tryptase (MCT) had been found to generate a similar effect as VEGF to stimulate angiogenesis [ 11 ].…”

An In Vitro Model of Mast Cell Recruitment and Activation by Breast Cancer Cells Supports Anti-Tumoral Responses

“…Mast cell infiltration is commonly found in human BrC and their densities have been associated with either the promotion or suppression of tumor growth [ 5 , 17 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 31 , 41 ]. Among the main documented pro-tumoral mechanisms are the promotion of angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis.…”

“…The MC role in cancer progression is controversial; while some studies associate high tumor MC density with BrC subtypes of good prognosis or with favorable clinical outcomes [ 5 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], others find them associated with aggressive features [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. One potential problem of current approaches to elucidate the participation of MCs in BrC progression, is that most studies are observational and correlative, and until now the molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated.…”