Survival of breast cancer patients according to changes in expression of selected markers between primary tumor and lymph node metastases

Biomark Med. 2016;10(3):219-28. doi: 10.2217/bmm.15.123. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

Abstract

Background: The differences between primary and metastatic tumor cells might be important for treatment selection and prognostication.

Materials & methods: Expression of ER, PR, HER2, CK5/6, EGFR, Ki-67, Ep-CAM, P-cadherin, CD24, CD44, ALDH was assessed immunohistochemically in primary tumor (T) and corresponding synchronous nodal metastases (LNM) in 156 invasive ductal breast cancer patients (T ≥1, N ≥1, M0).

Results: Independent negative prognostic factors for disease-free survival were pN3, ALDH immunopositivity in LNM, nonluminal A subtype in LNM, reduction of Ep-CAM expression in LNM, lack of changes or enhancement of CK5/6 and ALDH expression in LNM.

Discussion: Our results suggest that in some cases expression of markers in lymph node metastases might bring additional prognostic information to that obtained from primary tumor.

Keywords: breast carcinoma; changes in proteins expression; lymph node metastases; primary tumor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Sentinel Lymph Node / metabolism*
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Neoplasm Proteins