Myoepithelial Cells in Lobular Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast: A Parallel Immunocytochemical and Ultrastructural Study

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Abstract
The distribution and morphology of [human] myoepithelial cells in 1 case of normal breast and 4 cases of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) were studied by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence with anti-actin antisera and by EM. The actin-rich cells appeared to lay flattened on the basement membrane or perpendicular to it or appeared dislodged toward the center of the neoplastic ductules in the different cases. The presence of actin-rich cells inside the neoplastic aggregates may represent a process of colonization of lobular carcinoma by myoepithelial cells dislodged from the basement membrane; a differentiation of some neoplastic cells toward myoepithelial elements might also be taken into consideration. The features here described could identify a preinvasive stage of LCIS.