Stroma modifies relationships between risk factor exposure and age-related epithelial involution in benign breast.

ABSTRACT: Delayed age-related lobular involution has been previously associated with elevated breast cancer risk. However, intraindividual variability in epithelial involution status within a woman is undefined. We developed a novel measure of age-related epithelial involution, density of epithelial nuclei in epithelial areas using digital image analysis in combination with stromal characteristics (percentage of section area comprising stroma). Approximately 1800 hematoxylin and eosin stained sections of benign breast tissue were evaluated from 416 participants having breast surgery for cancer or benign conditions. Two to sixteen slides per woman from different regions of the breast were studied. Epithelial involution status varied within a woman and as a function of stromal area. Percentage stromal

SUBMITTER: Chollet-Hinton L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6076344 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature