Vimentin and alpha-fetoprotein expression in breast cancer smears: relationship with various prognostic factors

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status, factors known to influence the prognosis and therapeutic possibilities in patients with breast cancer; alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is an estrogen binder; and vimentin (V) were determined in cytological imprint smears of 75 mastectomy specimens. The results were classified according to tumor type and menopausal state and analyzed to determine possible relationships among these four markers under the different circumstances. There was a positive association of ER positivity with PR positivity, AFP positivity, and V negativity using chi 2 analysis. The lobular carcinomas studied were predominantly ER+, AFP+, V-, while in the ductal carcinomas V positivity was marginally predominant and also frequently associated with ER+ or PR+ status. The small number of medullary carcinomas made statistical analysis of this group difficult. It seemed probable that the marker status of the tumors was dependent more on the tumor type than on the menopausal state of the patients, thorough follow-up, especially of V+ medullary carcinomas, may provide insight into the value of vimentin as a primary rather than a secondary prognostic factor.