Comparison of invasive cancers with and without extensive intraductal component

Invasive carcinoma associated with extensive intraductal component (EIC+) reportedly has a higher rate of local recurrence after breast conservation than EIC- invasive carcinoma. We prospectively studied unselected patients with EIC+ and EIC- invasive carcinomas to determine whether biological differences in the invasive component of the tumor could contribute to differences in local recurrence. Consecutive patients were interviewed and their serum was tested for cancer antigen 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen, and lipid-associated sialic acid. DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction, Ki-67 nuclear antigen, estrogen and progesterone receptor, and HER-2/neu and epidermal growth factor expression of cancer were measured. Slides were reviewed and patients with EIC+ tumors were compared to patients with EIC- tumors. No differences were noted between EIC- and EIC+ invasive cancers in ploidy, S-phase fraction, estrogen receptor, HER-2/neu oncoprotein, and epidermal growth factor receptor. There were no differences in clinical risk factors, pathological features, or the serum tumor markers, lipid-associated sialic acid, carcinoembryonic antigen, and cancer antigen 15-3. No differences in clinical risk factors, pathological features, serum tumor markers, hormone receptor levels, proliferative indices, or oncoprotein expression were noted in relation to the presence of EIC.