Tumor Associated Mast Cells: Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters in Breast Carcinoma

Background: Mast cells are key component of innate immune system, intact closely with tumor cells and exert both protumorigenic and antitumorigenic effect through their diverse mediators. However, there exact role on invasive breast carcinoma remains ambiguous with study relating to both tumor prognosis and favouring tumor growth. Material and Methods: 34 cases of histopathologically confirmed breast carcinomas, sections from the tumor proper and non-neoplastic adjacent breast tissue where stained using Tissue Geimsa and mast cell density (MCD) was assessed. The tumor mast cell density was compared with Clinicopathological parameters such as Age, Tumor size, Tumor type, Histological grade, TILs, Lymph node involvement, LVI and Molecular subtype. Results: Of 34 cases, majority of the cases belongs to 4th decade constituting to around 29.4 (10 cases). Mean tumor size is 4.7+_1.7 cm with majority belonging to T2 category of TNM staging. The tumor mast cell density was higher than the mast cell density of non-neoplastic breast tissue(p<0.0001). There were 26 cases of Invasive ductal carcinoma NOS (76.4%). The remaining 8 cases of IDC with mucinous features, one case each of micropapillary, medullary, metaplastic, cribriform and micropapillary variant of mucinous carcinoma. There was no significant difference between mean values of mast cell density in IDC- NOS and breast carcinoma variants. No significant association of mast cell density was seen with other clinicopathological parameters such as tumor size, tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. However, the higher mast cell density was significantly associated with Lymphovascular invasion (p-0.02). Conclusion: Our study favors the hypothesis of Protumorigenic effect of Mast cells in Breast carcinoma. Further studies on mast cell density and breast carcinomas, should be studied to elucidate their role and for development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

Keywords: Mast cell density, Breast carcinoma, Tumor.