Relationship between Immunohistochemical Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor II with the Morphological Parameters in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: The stroma of breast cancer has a high concentration of IGF-II messenger RNA, according to recent in situ hybridization studies. The purpose of this research was to analyze 90 cases of breast infiltrating ductal carcinomas (IDC) to see if there was a correlation between the expression of the IGF-II protein and other prognostic variables. Method: Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of proliferative activity, IGF-II protein, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), p53, and p21 in tissue sections. We measured the extent of stromal proliferation. There was knowledge of menopausal status, involvement of axillary lymph nodes, and nuclear grade. There were 45 premenopausal patients (50%) and 47 patients (53.3%) with lymph node metastases, of the tissues examined. Result:40 (44%) showed stromal proliferation, and 22 (24%) had a high nuclear grade. There was a lack of IGF-II in 20 tumors (22.2%). 15 specimens (16.7%) had high IGF-II, 19 (21.1%) had low, and 35 (38.9%) had intermediate levels. High proliferative activity was noted in 26 tumors (29%). ER was positive in 57.8% and PgR in 41.1%. p21 was present in 40 tumors (44.4%) and p53 in 11 (12.2%). IGF-II had no association with ER, p53, or other factors, but was linked to PgR (p=0.03), stromal proliferation (p=0.008), and p21 (p=0.01). The study indicates IGF-II is expressed in IDC and associated with stromal quantity, PgR, and p21. Conclusion: The findings indicate that IGF-II may contribute to breast cancer progression through paracrine mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.