Abnormal alpha-catenin expression in invasive breast cancer correlates with poor patient survival.
OBJECTIVE
alpha-Catenin is a member of the E-cadherin-catenin family of adhesion molecules whose role is essential for the function of the E-cadherin complex. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of alpha-catenin but also of the other catenins (beta-, gamma- and p120-catenin) and E-cadherin in invasive breast cancer and statistically analysed these expressions with known clinicopathological parameters, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and patient survival.


RESULTS
Abnormal E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression, especially loss of expression, was associated with lobular histological type of breast carcinomas (P=0.03 and P=0.01, respectively). Abnormal E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression was associated with high histological grade ductal carcinomas (P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively). Abnormal E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression was correlated with lymph node metastases (P=0.02 and P=0.05, respectively), while abnormal alpha- and beta-catenin were correlated with the advanced stage of the disease (P=0.04 and P=0.05, respectively). Abnormal p120-catenin expression was associated with loss of PR (P=0.008). Survival analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between abnormal alpha-catenin expression and poor patient survival (P=0.02). When survival analysis was performed according to the different patterns of abnormal expression, statistically significant associations were seen between cytoplasmic alpha- and beta-catenin expression and poor survival (P=0.006 and P=0.04, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
alpha-Catenin, especially its cytoplasmic expression, seems to be a more sensitive prognostic marker than the other members of the E-cadherin complex in invasive breast cancer.
Nakopoulou
L
L
Department of Pathology, Medical School University of Athens, Athens, Greece. lnakopou@cc.uoa.gr
Gakiopoulou-Givalou
H
H
Karayiannakis
A J
AJ
Giannopoulou
I
I
Keramopoulos
A
A
Davaris
P
P
Pignatelli
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051178:alpha Catenin; D000095002:Delta Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D000095002:Delta Catenin; C000722347:CTNND1 protein, human