title: [Importance of E-cadherin; expression in the inmunohistochemical diagnosis of breast cancer].
abstract: It has been propossed that 50% of lobular carcinomas (LC) may change their phenotype to ductal carcinoma (DC) in 20 years. Since the prognosis and treatment of both breast carcinomas is different, it seems to be important; investigate through immunohistochemistry the loss of E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin expression was investigated in 90 cases with diagnosis or histological appearance of LC or mixed carcinomas (MxC), and in 30 DC selected among 385 cases received during year 2005 to be examined for immunohistochemical diagnosis. In 349 cases a diagnosis of DC was made. In the 90 cases selected to investigate EC the diagnosis of LC and MxC was performed in 36 cases, and among them, the histological diagnosis on 44.4% was modified. In 7 cases the diagnosis of LC was changed to DC, and 10 cases with diagnosis of MxC were considered to be DC. In 8 cases with diagnosis of DC and/or MxC the final diagnosis was that of LC. The histological diagnosis of CL is not always easily made and there are cases of DC with the appearance of LC, and cases of LC and MxC which may simulate to be DC. Diagnostic pitfalls in 44.4% of cases classified as LC and MxC after EC, were noted in our study. This percentage is close to the proposed 50% of cases of LC changing their phenotype to DC. The results with EC herein presented, suggested that diagnostic failures are due to the slight histological differences between both LC and DC. Recent evidences seems to indicate that there is a relationship between loss of EC and Tiroxine kynase receptors of the Epidermal Growth Factor related to migration and invasiveness of tumor cells. Immunohistochemical studies on the expression of EC in breast cancer is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Patología Molecular NOVAPATH, Maracaibo, Venczuela. novapath@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García Tamayo
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blasco Olaetxea
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guzmán Bistoni
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Méndez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins