Background: Down-regulation of the epithelial cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is frequently associated with tumor formation and progression in breast cancer. The aim of this study is the assessment of relationship between E-cadherin expression and routine prognostic biomarkers as well as grading and lymph node status in breast invasive ductal carcinomas. . The associations between co-expression of E-cadherin and other biomarkers on one hand and grading, proliferating index and lymph node status on the other have also been evaluated.
Objective: To evaluate the correlation of E-cadherin expression and routine immunohistochemistry panel in breast invasive ductal carcinoma.
Methods: 108 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens (of invasive ductal carcinoma "NOS" type) from the pathology archive of Alzahra hospital(Isfahan, Iran) which had been studied for expression of routine molecular biomarkers were selected. E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. Stained sections were classified according to the intensity of staining and the percentage of cells showing E-cadherin staining.
Results: No association was found between E-cadherin alteration and ER, PR, p53, Ki67 and HER2/neu status of breast cancer. However, E-cadherin alteration showed a significant difference between grading and also lymph node groups. There was no association between co-expression of E-cadherin/ER, E-cadherin/PR, E-cadherin/Her-2neu, E-cadherin/p53 and Her-2neu/p53 on one hand and Ki67 status and tumor grade on the other. Co-expressions of E-cadherin/Her-2neu and E-cadherin/p53 showed significant difference in lymph node groups.
Conclusion: We found that E-cadherin alteration in breast cancer has an association with other important prognostic factors. Evaluation of E-cadherin status can help, independently or in addition to conventional biological prognostic markers, to identify prognosis of breast cancer.