Tumor Budding and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Invasive Breast Carcinoma: A Single-Centre Observational Histopathological Stud

Dr. Mounika Reddy Guntaka; Yerraguntla Divyaprafulla; R.K. Prasanthi; G. Hima Bindu; Thotakura

doi:10.51168/2g835j10

Autori

Dr. Mounika Reddy Guntaka Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Yerraguntla Divyaprafulla Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India.
R.K. Prasanthi Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.
G. Hima Bindu Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India
Thotakura Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/2g835j10

Cuvinte cheie:

breast carcinoma, tumor budding, intratumoral budding, peritumoral budding, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, lymph-node metastasis, histopathology

Rezumat

Background

Tumor budding reflects detachment of single malignant cells or small cell clusters from the main tumor and is increasingly recognized as a morphologic indicator of invasive potential. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes represent the host immune response within the tumor microenvironment and provide complementary biological information in breast carcinoma.

Objectives

To assess intratumoral budding, peritumoral budding, stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and intratumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in invasive breast carcinoma and determine their associations with selected clinicopathological parameters.

Methods

This hospital-based observational histopathological study included 42 mastectomy specimens. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were examined for tumor-budding hotspots. Intratumoral and peritumoral budding were categorized as high or low using the study-defined threshold of more than four buds across 10 high-power fields. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed morphologically and analyzed using the recorded low and high categories. Estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 results were available for a subset of cases. Associations were assessed using chi-square testing, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results

High ITB and PTB were each identified in 19/42 cases (45.2%). Both ITB (p=0.0001) and PTB (p=0.0006) showed statistically significant associations with lymph-node metastasis, which was present in 19/42 cases (45.2%). Low iTILs were observed in 34/42 cases (81.0%), while low sTILs were identified in 29/42 cases (69.0%). PTB showed no significant association with iTILs (χ²=0.0905; p=0.763) or sTILs (χ²=0.5631; p=0.453). Associations of tumor budding with age, lymphovascular invasion, histological grade, tumor size, and receptor status were not statistically significant (all p>0.05).

Conclusion

Tumor budding, particularly its association with nodal metastasis, appears to identify an aggressive histomorphological phenotype in invasive breast carcinoma. The present series did not demonstrate a significant relationship between tumor budding and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte categories.

Recommendations

Larger multicentre studies using standardized budding and lymphocyte-scoring systems, survival endpoints, and reproducibility assessment are recommended before routine incorporation into breast carcinoma reporting protocols.

Biografii autori

Dr. Mounika Reddy Guntaka, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. Mounika Reddy Guntaka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her academic and research interests include breast pathology, oncopathology, tumor microenvironment, histomorphological prognostic markers, and diagnostic histopathology.
Yerraguntla Divyaprafulla, Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India.

Dr. Yerraguntla Divyaprafulla is a Professor in the Department of Transfusion Medicine at Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India. Her professional interests include transfusion medicine, blood banking, immunohematology, component therapy, transfusion safety, and clinical research related to blood transfusion practices.
R.K. Prasanthi, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. M.V.R.K. Prashanthi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her academic interests include diagnostic histopathology, breast pathology, tumor morphology, and pathology-based clinical research.
G. Hima Bindu, Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India

Dr. G. Hima Bindu is Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology at Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally, Telangana, India. She is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate pathology education, diagnostic histopathology, academic supervision, and research in surgical and oncological pathology.
Thotakura, Professor, Department of Pathology, Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Dr. Mahathi Thotakura is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Katuri Medical College and Hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her academic work encompasses pathology teaching, diagnostic histopathology, oncopathology, clinicopathological correlation, and research guidance.

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