ObjectiveTo analyze the canceration trend of different thickness tissues of nipple-areolar complex (NAC), and provide the theoretical basis of pathology for the security of reserving NAC in patients with breast cancer.

MethodsThe 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm and 1.5 cm thickness tissues under NAC were harvested, marked and made into paraffin sections after 24 h of fixation in 10% formaldehyde solution, and cut into two slices with 4 μm thickness, respectively.One slice was stained with HE, the level of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) protein in another slice was detected using Western blotting.

ResultsThe results of routine HE staining showed that the positive rate of cancer cells infiltration was 7.14% in 1.5 cm thickness tissue under NAC, no cancer cells infiltration in 1.0 cm and 0.5 cm thickness tissues under NAC was found, and the difference of which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).The results of Western blotting showed that the positive expressions of hTERT in the margin of 1.5 cm and 1.0 cm thickness tissues under NAC were found, the differences of the positive rates of hTERT expression among the 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm and 1.5 cm thickness tissues under NAC were statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the positive rate of which increased with the increasing of tissue thickness.There was statistical significance in the level of hTERT in 1.5 cm thickness tissue between routine pathological detection and Western blotting (P < 0.05).

ConclusionsIn evaluating the security of NAC, the molecular pathology is more sensitive than that of traditional pathology.The thickness range under NAC with molecular level change of cancer cell is more than 0.5 cm, and the thickness under NAC should not be greater than 0.5 cm in reserving the NAC.