Phenotypic alterations in myoepithelial cells of the breast in normal and pathologic conditions.

摘要

I read, with interest, the recently published article entitled "Phenotypic Alterations in Myoepithelial Cells Associated with Benign Sclerosing Lesions of the Breast" by Hilson et al. The researchers have shown that myoepithelial cells (MC) associated with benign sclerosing lesions (sclerosing adenosis, radial scar, and complex sclerosing lesions) may show immunophenotypic differences (for smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, CD10, cytoker-atin 5/6, p63, calponin, and p75) from MC associated with normal breast ducts and lobules and also among these different types of sclerosing lesions. The researchers then compare their results with those of their similar earlier study of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) associated MC. Although 84% of DCIS cases examined showed decreased expression or absent staining of > 1 MC marker compared with normal MC, only 48% of benign sclerosing lesion showed decreased expression or absent staining of > 1 MC marker compared with normal MC.