Immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin in sclerosing adenosis, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.
E-cadherin (EC) is an important glycoprotein cell-adhesion molecule that appears to play a significant role in the progression of breast lesions. The objective of this study was to evaluate EC expression in sclerosing adenosis, ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma. Samples of breast lesions from 44 women were used in this study, comprising cases of sclerosing adenosis (n = 11), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 10) and invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 23). Immunohistochemical evaluation of EC expression was assessed semiquantitatively and considered negative (<10% of cells with stained cytoplasmic membranes), positive+ (10-50% of cells stained) or positive++ (> 50% of cells stained). Fisher's exact test was used to compare the distribution of staining intensity in the lesions (P< 0.05). There was a progressive loss of EC expression from benign to malignant lesions. This difference was statistically significant when sclerosing adenosis was compared with DCIS (P < 0.0002), when sclerosing adenosis was compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (P < 0.008) and when DCIS was compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (P < 0.007). The present findings point to a significant association between reduced EC expression and the progression and aggressivity of breast lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Facina
Gil
G
Department of Gynecology, Mastology Division, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Lopes-Costa
Pedro Vitor
PV
Dos Santos
Alesse Ribeiro
AR
De Vasconcelos-Valença
Rodrigo Jose
RJ
Pinho-Sobral
André Luis
AL
Ferreira-Filho
Celso Pires
CP
Alencar
Airlane Pereira
AP
Gebrim
Luiz Henrique
LH
Da Silva
Benedito Borges
BB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012598:Sclerosis
D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins