Abstract

Metaplastic Breast Cancer and p16 Positivity: What Does It Mean?

Vohra LM and Siddiqui T

Background: Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a heterogeneous group of malignant breast tumor having different morphologic subtypes. Very little is known about the mechanisms which underlie the pathophysiology of metaplastic breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the p16 positivity in MBC cases.
Methods: A single center series of MBC cases were subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) testing for p16 using a monoclonal antibody.
Results: 14 out of 15 cases showed squamous metaplasia and 13of the latter had p16 positivity in the metaplastic component.
Conclusion: The significance of this high level of positivity of the p16 is curious and its significance if validated in larger numbers is so far uncertain. We present some views on it.