Robinson cytologic grading in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast: correlation with E-cadherin and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression and regional lymph node metastasis.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the cytologic grade of breast carcinoma with the expression of E-cadherin/catenin system molecules and the presence of metastasis in regional lymph nodes.


METHODS
Aspirate smears were examined together with histologic sections from the corresponding neoplasms taken from 100 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. In 50 cases, > or = 1 metastatic nodes were identified. Cytologic grading of the smears was performed using the Robinson method. Immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin was studied.


RESULTS
A statistically significant relationship was observed between E-cadherin/catenin expression and cytologic grade (p < 0.0005). This association was particularly relevant to the cell dissociation parameter (p < 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
The cytological grade established in preoperative studies may provide relevant information on the aggressiveness of invasive ductal carcinoma and its tendency to produce regional metastasis. This finding could be particularly useful in cases of breast carcinoma in which neoadjuvant therapy is the method of choice.
Robles-Frías
Antonio
A
Pathology Department and Investigation Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen de Valme, Spain. aroblesfrias@wanadoo.es
González-Cámpora
Ricardo
R
Martínez-Parra
Diego
D
Robles-Frías
María José
MJ
Vázquez-Cerezuela
Teresa
T
Otal-Salaverri
Concepción
C
Almeida-González
Carmen
C
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051185:gamma Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin