Journal of Cytology & Histology

Lectin Histochemistry Reveals Changes in Carbohydrate Expression on Morphological Types of Breast Ductal Carcinoma in situ

Abstract

Gabriela Souto Vieira-de-Mello, Antônio Felix da Silva Filho, Petra Barros dos Santos, Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo and Eduardo Isidoro Carneiro Beltrão

Breast Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) show a high degree of architectural heterogeneity and what kind of DCIS
lesions will progress to invasive disease remains unknown. Thus, its characterization remains a complex process.
In addition, in the same tumor we can find different types of lesions that presented different biological behaviour
and morphology. Carbohydrate expression changes play crucial roles in carcinogenesis of the breast, becoming the
study these changes a useful tool for an accurate predictor. In this context, this work aimed analyzed the differential
expression of specific carbohydrates among the DCIS lesion through lectin histochemistry and its correlation with
its behaviors. Glycobiology expression of 218 DCIS samples of human breast cancer was investigated by MAL-II,
PNA, WGA, PHA-L and SNA lectins. MAL-II was more expressed (p=0.0191) in cribriform (positive in 100%) than
in comedo (positive in 41.2%) and solid lesions (p=0.0440). However, PNA profile showed a higher reactivity in
comedo (p=0.0052) and micropapillary (p=0.0010) lesions when compared to solid one. The other lectins showed
different expression degrees in all lesions analyzed but none was statistically relevant. Our results revels different
carbohydrate patterns concerning different DCIS morphological subtypes indicating that these lesions could act as
independent biological entities.