The value of MAGE-A11 at the differentiation of invasive ductal and invasive lobular carcinomas from benign breast lesions

Breast cancer is the most common cancer at women and about 22% of all cancers. Mortality rate is 18% and is the second most common cancer after lung cancer. Imaging technics, aspiration cytologies and core biopsies are usefull before radical surgeries and reduction surgery. Breast carcinomas show different histopathologic features. This reason has been investigated with genetic futures and studies about tumor gen expression patterns have been increased. The melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family consists of a number ofantigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. MAGE–A11 is expressed in melanoma, breast and lung cancer. In this study we investigated MAGE–A11 expression in normal breast tissue, and invasive ductal and invasive lobular carcinomas. A total of 150 cases as 50 normal breast tissue, 50 invasive ductal and 50 invasive lobular carcinoma were randomisely selected from Fırat University Medical Faculty Pathology Department. MAGE–A11 was applied to the samples and MAGE–A11 expression was observed at 33 of normal 50 breast tissue (66%), 45 of 50 invasive ductal ( 90%) and 35 of 50 invasive lobular (70%) carcinomas. The difference between the normal breast tissue and carcinomas were not statistically significant (p>0,05). However, MAGE–A11 expression was higher at invasive ductal carcinom than invasive lobular carcinoma (p<0,05). As a result; MAGE–A11 does not provide any benefit at differantiating normal and malign breast tissues. However, it was concluded that it's high expression at invasive ductal carcinomas can be usefull at differantial diagnosis with invasive lobular carcinomas.