The Effect of Freezing on the Immunoprofile of Breast Carcinoma Cells

Year 2014, Volume: 31 Issue: 4, 335 - 339, 01.10.2014

Asuman Argon Alper Şener Osman Zekioğlu Necmettin Özdemir Murat Kapkaç

Abstract

Background: Intraoperative frozen section procedure may be required
in some operations performed for breast masses.
Aims: We investigated the effect of frozen section procedure on the
immunoprofile of breast carcinoma cells.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: A total of 53 breast carcinoma cases evaluated with intraoperative
frozen sections were included in this study. Immunohistochemically,
oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and HER2 primary
antibodies were evaluated in both frozen and non-frozen sections of
each tumour sample.
Results: No difference was found between the frozen and non-frozen
sections in 33 cases in terms of staining rate and intensity of ER, PR
and HER2. A decrease was found in the ER, PR and HER2 staining rate (in 10 cases, 9 cases and 6 cases, respectively). Likewise, a
decrease was detected in ER, PR and HER2 staining intensity in 6
patients for each. Although there was no staining in frozen sections,
immunopositivity was observed in 3 non-frozen sections for ER, in 2
for PR and in 5 for HER2. Statistically, a significant difference was
found between the frozen and non-frozen sections in terms of staining
rate and intensity for each of the three markers.
Conclusion: In this study, the frozen section procedure in breast carcinoma
had a negative effect on the immunoprofile. However, considering
the importance of hormone receptor status in the treatment,
these results should be supported with larger series

Keywords

Breast carcinoma, frozen examination, HER2, immunohistochemistry, oestrogen, progesterone

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