Breast cancer and elastosis

Sections from 414 breast cancers were examined in order to estimate the frequency and grade of elastosis. The incidence of elastosis was correlated to age, different types of tumor, and, regarding ductal carcinoma, the grade of differentiation. Except for a shift to higher incidence over the age of 40, no positive correlation between increasing age and frequency or grade of elastosis was found. Moderately differentiated ductal carcinoma showed elastosis in 69.9%, and poorly differentiated in 63.1%. The incidence in 28 lobular carcinomas was 64.3%. Sections from ductal carcinomas with elastosis were treated with elastase and, subsequently, no elastin could be demonstrated. An amyloid-like material was left in areas where elastosis was seen in control sections. Senile elastosis reacted in a similar way to enzyme digestion, but, in other respects, a tinctorial divergency between mammary and skin elastosis was found. The possible significance of elastosis in breast cancer is briefly discussed.