[E-cadherin associated protein expression and its significance in invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma of breast].
OBJECTIVE
To study E-cadherin associated proteins alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression and their significance in invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry staining (labeled streptavidin-biotin method) was used to detect alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression in invasive breast carcinoma (19 cases of ILC and 32 cases of IDC ).


RESULTS
The loss and reduction rate of alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression in ILC was 78.9% (15 cases), 52.6% (10 cases) and 84.2% (16 cases), respectively. The rate of alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression showing loss and reduction in IDC was 75.0% (24 cases), 43.8% (14 cases) and 81.3% (26 cases), respectively. The staining intensity of alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression in invasive carcinoma of breast was weaker than that in foci of carcinoma in situ (semiquantitative grading). There was a positive relationship between the expression of alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in invasive breast carcinoma. No significant association was seen between reduced protein expression of alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin and the development of lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression was almost identical in ILC and IDC of breast, showing significant loss and reduction of protein expression in the carcinoma cells of invasive breast carcinoma, suggesting that alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin may lose their normal adherent ability in the pathogenesis of invasive breast carcinoma.
Han
A
A
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089, China. anjiahan@public.guangzhong.gd.cn
Xiong
M
M
Li
Z
Z
Liang
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin