Retention of the expression of E-cadherin and catenins is associated with shorter survival in grade III ductal carcinoma of the breast.
Many studies have investigated the relationship between the E-cadherin/catenin axis and breast cancer biology and yet, unlike the studies in other tumour systems, which have shown a relationship between down-regulation and poor survival, no clear association has emerged in breast. Since accumulating evidence suggests that ductal carcinoma of no special type (NST) represents a diverse group of biologies, this study has focused on grade III ductal carcinoma, in order to reduce the heterogeneity of the study population. A total of 470 breast tumours were studied. Consecutive sections were labelled with antibodies which recognize E-cadherin and the arm proteins with which it interacts: alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin. Membrane-bound and cytoplasmic E-cadherin and membrane-bound alpha-catenin expression were associated with a positive oestrogen receptor (ER) status, gamma-catenin with a negative ER status, and, surprisingly, all three with poor survival. Taken together, these findings suggest that a conserved E-cadherin/catenin axis may play a part in determining adverse outcome in grade III breast carcinoma.
Hedley Atkins/ICRF Breast Pathology Laboratory, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK.
C E
CE
Gillett
D W
DW
Miles
K
K
Ryder
D
D
Skilton
R D
RD
Liebman
R J
RJ
Springall
D M
DM
Barnes
A M
AM
Hanby
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin