Evaluation of prognostic parameters of E-cadherin status in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in women. Axillary lymph node involvement, tumour size, receptor status, and level of malignancy are the most significant prognostic factors in breast cancer, but insufficient to date. More factors are needed for establishing the prognosis and treatment in these patients. The aim of the presented study was evaluation of E-cadherin expression and its prognostic value among 89 specimens of breast cancer.

89 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast cancer specimens were studied for expression of E-cadherin detected by immunohistochemistry. During 10-year observation overall/OS/and disease-free survival/DFS/of patients were assessed.

Average of OS and DFS were shorter among patients without expression of E-cadherin in comparison to survival time of patients with expression of E-cadherin. The lack of E-cadherin expression was present more often among patients with distant metastasis. No essential changes were noticed in the level of E-cadherin depending on the size of the tumour, G, presence of metastasis into the lymph nodes, ER, PR and HER-2, hormonal condition and presence of cancerous tissues in lymphatic vessels and the infiltration of lymph nodes capsules.

E-cadherin may play an important role in the prognosis of breast cancer patients.