The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 193, Issue 5 , Pages 547-550, May 2007

Prognostic significance of reactivation of telomerase in breast core biopsy specimens

Presented at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the North Pacific Surgical Association, Spokane, WA, November 10–11, 2006

  • Garth S. Herbert, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040A Reid St, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-253-968-2200; fax: +1-253-968-5900.
    • ,
  • Vance Y. Sohn, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040A Reid St, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA
    • ,
  • Michael J. Mulcahy, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040A Reid St, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA
    • ,
  • Anne L. Champeaux, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA
    • ,
  • Tommy A. Brown, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040A Reid St, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA

Received 6 December 2006; received in revised form 29 January 2007

Abstract 

Background

Telomerase is not expressed in most somatic tissues, but activity has been shown in breast carcinoma and up to 90% of solid tumors. We sought to determine whether activation of telomerase, as shown by immunohistochemical staining for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), held prognostic significance in core breast biopsy specimens.

Methods

We identified women with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) on core biopsy who either had underlying cancer or ADH. Immunohistochemistry with anti-hTERT antibody was performed on biopsy specimens, and staining was evaluated.

Results

Core biopsy specimens stained strongly with the hTERT antibody in 7 (70%) specimens with ADH on open biopsy and 6 (86%) with underlying cancer. The difference was not statistically significant (P = .43).

Conclusions

Our study suggests telomerase may be activated early in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The immunohistochemical evaluating expression of hTERT does not reliably identify those patients with ADH on core biopsy who are likely to have cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Atypical ductal hyperplasia, Immunohistochemistry, Core needle biopsy, Telomerase

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 This manuscript represents the opinions of the authors alone and does not represent the views of the Department of Defense, the United States Army, or Madigan Army Medical Center.

PII: S0002-9610(07)00061-X

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.01.011

The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 193, Issue 5 , Pages 547-550, May 2007

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