Detection and characterisation of disseminated tumour cells in bone marrow of breast cancer patients by immunostaining of Her-2 and MUC-1 in combination with Thomsen-Friedenreich (CD176)

• Ulrich Andergassen ^[1] ; Alexandra C. Kölbl ^[1] ; M. Zebisch ^[1] ; Sabine Heublein ^[1] ; S. Hutter ^[1] ; M. Ilmer ^[2] ; C. Schindlbeck ^[3] ; Klaus Friese ^[1] ; Udo Jeschke ^[1]
  1. [1] Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

     Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

     Kreisfreie Stadt München, Alemania

     
  2. [2] University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

     University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

     Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] Frauenklinik - Klinikum Traunstein, Traunstein, Germany

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• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 29, Nº. 7, 2014, págs. 913-923
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow derive from many primary tumours, such as breast cancer. Their mere existence hints to present or future metastasis and implicates a worse prognosis for the patient. DTCs may possess different characteristics in comparison to the primary tumour due to events like Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition. Therefore these cells might be able to survive chemotherapy and cause relapses of the disease at a later point. We aimed to detect and further characterise DTCs by an immunostaining approach with three different antigen markers (Her-2, MUC-1 and TF, also known as CD176). For that reason, bone marrow of 41 breast cancer patients was obtained during surgery; DTCs were enriched by density gradient centrifugation and cytospins were prepared. After fixation, immuno-fluorescent double-stainings were carried out with antibodies against CD176 in combination with HER-2 or MUC-1. Cells co-expressing two antigens were found in all staining combinations (Her-2 and CD176: 46.14%; MUC-1 and CD176: 18.15% of all cases). Cells that stained for a single antigen only were also found (Her-2: 36.86%; MUC-1: 34.45%; CD176: 29.65% of all cases). Significant correlations between the stainings of all markers could be shown (p<0,001). In conclusion, Thomsen-Friedenreich Antigen (TF, CD176) is a promising marker in combination with the established marker Her-2 and other markers like MUC-1. These results may serve as a basis for future DTC detection routines and help to individualize medical treatment, reducing side effects and increasing the efficiency of the therapy