Expression of ER/PR/HER2, basal markers and adhesion molecules in primary breast cancer and in lymph nodes metastases: a comparative immunohistochemical analysis

Pol J Pathol. 2012 Dec;63(4):228-34. doi: 10.5114/pjp.2012.32769.

Abstract

The immunophenotypic differences between primary and metastatic tumour cells could influence patient's treatment or/and the results of selected diagnostic procedures. That prompted us to investigate potential differences between primary tumours and corresponding synchronous lymph node metastases in the T  1/N+/M0 breast cancer patients. The investigated group consisted of 108 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer, who underwent radical surgery. The expression of ER, PR, HER2 as well as CK5/6, P-cadherin, EGFR and Ep-CAM was assessed immunohistochemically. Our data suggest that ER, PR, HER2, EGFR and CK5/6 are expressed conservatively, with some minor changes between primary tumour and simultaneous lymph node metastases. On the contrary, Ep-CAM and P-cadherin immunoreactivity in primary and metastatic cells varied significantly. This variation might exclude Ep-CAM and P-cadherin as potential diagnostic or therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2