Tumor differentiation and histological type in human breast cancer

Biopsies from 61 women with breast cancer were assessed for various histological features. These results were statistically analyzed for associations of gross tumor size, patient age, stage of disease, tumor hormone receptor status, with accepted systems of nuclear and histological grading for differentiation. Tumors with highly differentiated grading had smaller cell nuclei, stromal elastasis, intraduct carcinoma and tubular formations. Poorly differentiated tumors had large vesicular cell nuclei and increased mitotic indices. Gross tumor size was also linked with stromal elastosis, intraduct carcinoma, a specific pattern of stromal infiltration, and mitotic index. No relationship could be found between any of the above features and the patients clinical statuses or their tumors' hormone receptivities. The existence of two distinct histological patterns of breast carcinoma is proposed; the patterns may either represent stages in the development of the tumor or different biological types.