[Expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and molecular subtypes and prognosis of breast cancer]

To investigate clinicopathological and prognostic significance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression in breast cancer and its molecular subtypes.

The expression of EpCAM in 835 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemical Max VisionTM method, and its correlation with clinical pathological features and prognosis was analyzed.

The positive expression of EpCAM was related to histological grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, clinical stage, the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 (P<0.05). The positive expression rates of EpCAM were 19.2%, 73%, 48.9%, 72.2%, and 62.1%, in Luminal A, Luminal B (HER2-), Luminal B(HER2+), HER2+, and triple-negative subtype, respectively. Log-rank test and univariate COX analysis showed that the EpCAM expression was associated with a poor prognosis in all patients (P<0.001), as well as the triple-negative subtype, luminal B subtype (HER2-), and HER2+ subtype (P<0.05). Multivariate COX analysis showed that EpCAM expression was associated with the survival in patients with the triple-negative or HER2+ subtype (P<0.05).

EpCAM may be associated with progress of breast cancer. It is an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer, especially in the triple-negative and HER2+ subtypes.