Erythrophagocytosis by epithelial cells of a breast carcinoma

Abstract

Erytrophagocytosis by epithelial tumor cells has been observed in metastases of ductal carcinoma of the female breast. Some malignant cells of this tumor seem to be capable of phagocytizing and digesting extravasated red blood cells with the formation of residual hemosiderin probably from their hemoglobin content. Erythrophagocytosis has been observed only in hemorrhagic areas of the tumor. Although the nature of this phenomenon is unknown, it is postulated that acquired hematological disturbancess during the natural course of the malignant disease affect the surface of the red blood cells making them vulnerable to phagocytosis by the malignant cells. This case seems to represent the second time such a phenomenon has been reported in an epithelial neoplasm in man. However, it has been more frequently observed in reticulo-endothelial malignancies. The possible occurence of this phenomenon should alert pathologists to search for it in primary and metastatic epithelial tumors and in living patients to correlate pertinent hematological studies in an attempt to elucidate its possible significance.