The Prognostic Value of E-cadherin Expression in Breast Cancer
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The behavior of
breast cancer varies widely. Several parameters have been investigated to predict the prognosis in breast cancer. But still there
is no single parameter that can predict prognosis in an individual patient. Among the novel prognostic markers is E-cadherin; a
calcium-dependent epithelial cell adhesion molecule. Its loss has been associated with metastases, thereby providing evidence
for its role as an invasion suppressor.
The objective of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in breast cancer
cases, and its correlations with the other studied prognostic parameters.
Methods: The study comprised 54 breast cancer patients admitted at King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Qassim during the period
2001-2006. The median tumor size was 3cms. Fifty cases (92.6%) had invasive ductal carcinoma, four cases had lobular
carcinomas, and most were grade II (82%), stage II (48%), and the majority of cases had positive axillary lymph nodes (70.3%).
Representative sections from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks were taken from the 54 cases of breast cancer,
and were stained for E-cadherin expression by immunohistochemical technique (monoclonal E-cadherin (NCL-E-cad),
Novocastra). All the lobular carcinoma cases were negative for membranous expression of E-cadherin while 72% of invasive
ductal carcinomas were positive for the marker.
Results: A significant correlation was found between strong E-cadherin expression and node negative cases. Node negative
cases were found to be an independent predictor of strong E-cadherin expression while node positive cases predicted negative
expression of E-cadherin (P = 0 .026). Also loss of E-cadherin was noted in advanced stages of breast cancer supporting the
view that loss of E-cadherin expression is a marker of aggressiveness. However, there was no correlation between the Ecadherin
and other prognostic parameters as tumor size, tumor grade, ER, PR, and HER-2 expression.
Conclusion
A significant correlation was found between strong E-cadherin expression and node negative cases.
Key Words: breast cancer, E-cadherin, immunohistochemistry, immunostaining, prognostic factors.
breast cancer varies widely. Several parameters have been investigated to predict the prognosis in breast cancer. But still there
is no single parameter that can predict prognosis in an individual patient. Among the novel prognostic markers is E-cadherin; a
calcium-dependent epithelial cell adhesion molecule. Its loss has been associated with metastases, thereby providing evidence
for its role as an invasion suppressor.
The objective of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in breast cancer
cases, and its correlations with the other studied prognostic parameters.
Methods: The study comprised 54 breast cancer patients admitted at King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Qassim during the period
2001-2006. The median tumor size was 3cms. Fifty cases (92.6%) had invasive ductal carcinoma, four cases had lobular
carcinomas, and most were grade II (82%), stage II (48%), and the majority of cases had positive axillary lymph nodes (70.3%).
Representative sections from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks were taken from the 54 cases of breast cancer,
and were stained for E-cadherin expression by immunohistochemical technique (monoclonal E-cadherin (NCL-E-cad),
Novocastra). All the lobular carcinoma cases were negative for membranous expression of E-cadherin while 72% of invasive
ductal carcinomas were positive for the marker.
Results: A significant correlation was found between strong E-cadherin expression and node negative cases. Node negative
cases were found to be an independent predictor of strong E-cadherin expression while node positive cases predicted negative
expression of E-cadherin (P = 0 .026). Also loss of E-cadherin was noted in advanced stages of breast cancer supporting the
view that loss of E-cadherin expression is a marker of aggressiveness. However, there was no correlation between the Ecadherin
and other prognostic parameters as tumor size, tumor grade, ER, PR, and HER-2 expression.
Conclusion
A significant correlation was found between strong E-cadherin expression and node negative cases.
Key Words: breast cancer, E-cadherin, immunohistochemistry, immunostaining, prognostic factors.
Younis, L. K., El Sakka, H., & Haque, I. (2007). The Prognostic Value of E-cadherin Expression in Breast Cancer. International Journal of Health Sciences, 1(1). Retrieved from https://ijhs.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/110
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