• Marcus Vinicius Martins de Menezes, Anna Letícia Oliveira Cestari, Orlando Almeida, Marcelo Alvarenga, Glauce Aparecida Pinto, Maria Salete Costa Gurgel, Gustavo Antônio de Souza, and Luiz Carlos Zeferino.
• Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming 101, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
• Sao Paulo Med J. 2006 May 4; 124 (3): 121124121-4.

Context And ObjectiveBreast cancer is thought to derive from progressively aberrant, non-invasive breast lesions, but it is not known exactly how invasive breast cancer develops from these lesions. The aim of this study was to verify the changes in c-erbB-2 and p53 protein expression between non-neoplastic ducts, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma found in the same breast.Design And SettingThis was a cross-sectional study at Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, Campinas, Brazil.MethodsFifty-six women with invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ in the same breast were included. The expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 proteins was assessed in non-neoplastic and neoplastic cells using immunohistochemical techniques.ResultsThe c-erbB-2 protein was absent in non-neoplastic ducts but was present in 46% and 36% of in situ and invasive carcinoma components, respectively. Only 2% of non-neoplastic ducts, and 18% and 16% of ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma components, respectively, were positive for p53 protein. No significant difference in c-erbB-2 and p53 protein expression was observed between in situ and invasive components. The nuclear grade agreement between in situ and invasive carcinoma was very good.ConclusionsThe invasiveness of ductal carcinoma in situ seems to be independent of the Her-2/neu and TP53 genes. The general features of an occurrence of breast carcinoma are formulated at the outset of carcinogenesis, and the Her-2/neu and TP53 genes are involved.

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