Figure 2

Breast cancer microcalcifications and mesenchymal phenotype. (A) Vimentin-positive cells in a ductal in situcomedocarcinoma in proximity of calcium deposits. (B) Double staining for pan-cytokeratin (brown stain) and vimentin (red cytoplasmic stain). The co-localization of both markers (arrows) highlight the EMT just as it is occurring. The same phenomenon was observed in cells infiltrating the stroma as small aggregates (arrows) (C). Double-stain demonstrating keratin positivity differentiated these cells from stromal elements. β-Catenin immunostaining demonstrated the translocation of the signal in the cytoplasm/nucleus of cells close to a microcalcification in the Icm (D and E). Notably, ICwm showed a prevalent β-catenin membrane stain (F). The insert in (F) illustrates cell membrane positivity to β-catenin signal in normal breast tissue. (G) Image showing a strong signal for β 2-M near a microcalcification in ISCm. OPN signal (H) and BMP2 signal (I) in cells surrounding calcium deposits allowed us to assume that mineralization observed in breast is similar to that which occurs in bone.