BACKGROUND: Ductal carcinoma in situ is the last step preceding invasive
ductal carcinoma in breast carcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of myoepithelial cells and epithelium
characteristics as predictors of the risk of stromal invasion.
METHODS: We selected 236 cases with initial diagnosis of DCIS followed by
surgical ressection distributed in groups 1 (without invasion) and 2 (with invasive
carcinoma).
RESULTS: The risk of stromal invasion after a DCIS diagnosis in biopsy was
associated to triple-negative profile and loss of CD10 expression by myoepithelial cells,
and inversely associated with CK5/6 expression by neoplastic cells and high expression of
Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain (SMMHC) by myoepithelial cells.
CONCLUSIONS: A combination of characteristics of epithelial and
myoepithelial cells in DCIS in biopsy specimens is related to the risk of stromal
invasion.
