Relationship of P-cadherin expression to basal phenotype of breast carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
P-cadherin (P-CD) is a molecule expressed mainly by basal cells involved in cell adhesion. We evaluated expression of P-CD in operable breast carcinomas and its relationship with immunohistochemical markers of the basal-like phenotype and with clinical outcome.


METHODS
Expression of P-CD was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 194 tissue specimens of invasive operable ductal breast cancer.


RESULTS
112 cases (57.7%) were identified as being P-CD-positive. P-CD-positive tumors usually lacked steroid receptors (p = 0.042), expressed basal type cytokeratins (p = 0.001), and were positive for cyclin E (p = 0.039). In a univariate analysis of cancer-specific survival with a median follow-up period of 58 months, P-CD expression was not associated with prognosis (5-year survival rate for positive vs. negative patients 67.0 vs. 77.0%, log rank p = 0.121).


CONCLUSIONS
P-CD may be regarded as an additional immunohistochemical marker of basal-like breast carcinomas. However, P-CD expression is not an adverse prognostic factor.
Potemski
Piotr
P
Department of Chemotherapy, Copernicus Memorial Hospital, Medical University of Lódź. piotrpo@mp.pl
Kusińska
Renata
R
Kubiak
Robert
R
Piekarski
Janusz H
JH
Płuciennik
Elzbieta
E
Bednarek
Andrzej K
AK
Kordek
Radzisław
R
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D018295:Neoplasms, Basal Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins