Immunohistochemical Detection of Aromatase in Breast Carcinomas

Abstract

The immunohistochemical detection of aromatase was performed in breast carcinoma specimens obtained from 55 patients. Thirty-nine carcinomas were from postmenopausal women and 16 from premenopausal women. Aromatase immunoreactivity was observed in 33 of 55 cases (60%) . The positivity for aromatase staining was 64% in the postmenopausal group and 50% in the premenopausal group. The postmenopausal group tended to have a significant positive association between estrogen receptor expression and aromatase positivity (p=0.035) . The immunohistochemical detection of aromatase expression may be useful in the monitoring of postoperative endocrine therapy in women with breast carcinoma.