Expression of stem cell growth factor receptor CD117 (C-Kit) in breast neoplasms

Aim: study designed to correlate the histopathological grading and IHC of Breast cancers and also to study the expression of stem cell growth factor receptor CD117(c-Kit) in stromal component, myoepithelial cells and ductal epithelial cells of non-neoplastic & neoplastic breast lesions. Materials and Methods: A study of 50 women with breast neoplasm enrolled and their samples were examined by lumpectomy and mastectomy and fixed for immunohistochemistry with monoclonal rabbit anti-human c-Kit marker. 4-6 microns sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and grading was done according to modified bloom and richardson grading. Results: In breast cancer, the expression of c-Kit observed to be high in malignant breast epithelium. Expression of c-Kit decreased in the benign ductal epithelium and infiltrating duct cell carcinoma. There is a significant increase in the expression of c-Kit in the stromal cells as the lesions progressed from benign to malignant phyllodes tumor. Reduction in c-Kit expression in malignant breast lesions may suggest its carcinogenic role in the breast. Conclusion: There is decrease in the expression of c-Kit was observed between benign ductal epithelium (92%) and infiltrating duct cell carcinoma. There is a significant increase in c-Kit expression observed in the stromal cells as the lesions progressed between benign (16.5%) and malignant phyllodes (50%).