[Relationship between the expression of E-cadherin-catenins and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin and the metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of breast cancer.


METHODS
The expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin in 40 breast cancer specimens was studied by the immunohistochemical method. The relationship between E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin expression and clinicopathological characteristics or survival time was analyzed respectively.


RESULTS
The abnormal expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-catenin was significantly correlated with lymph nodes and distant metastasis (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was also strictly correlated with surival time of breast cancer patients (P < 0.01). However, when all the four proteins (E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin) were analyzed as one group, a significant association was found between the abnormal expression of two or more of these four proteins and the metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin could be used as an important marker of metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer. Moreover, when all the four proteins (E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin) are considered together, the accuracy and sensitivity predicting metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer could be increased.
Zou
Wen
W
Department of Oncology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Hu
Chun-hong
CH
Zhou
Jian-ping
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin