Cancer stem cells biomarkers in triple negative invasive carcinoma of the breast and associated in situ lesions.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) [negative for expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) and HER2÷neu protein] represent a subtype of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis and highly aggressive behavior. The characterization of stem cell in this type of carcinoma could determine the appearance of new ideas concerning origin and evolution. There is an impressive amount of data in the literature related to TNBC and a growing interest for stem cell research during the past years, but there are no data concerning the genetic characterization of stem cells in the context of cell biology of TNBC as compared with associated DCIS. We performed immunohistochemical studies for the expression and distribution of several stem cell-related antigens, focusing on the association of TNBC with DCIS and comparing the presence of stem cells in the invasive and in the in situ component. Optimization of detection, identification and characterization of tumorigenic breast cancer stem cells might permit further identification of targeted treatment.