P-cadherin, vimentin and CK14 for identification of basal-like phenotype in breast carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study.
The most suitable immunohistochemical criterion to identify basal-like breast carcinomas (BLBC), a molecular subgroup of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis, is the triple negative phenotype along with CK5 and/or EGFR immunoreactivity. However, several putative basal markers have been suggested as alternatives to identify BLBC with more accuracy.



The expression of CK5, EGFR, P-cadherin, CK14, Vimentin and p63 were evaluated in 462 invasive breast carcinomas to determine their sensitivity and specificity for BLBC identification.



P-cadherin and CK5 showed higher sensitivity values, while EGFR, Vimentin and CK14 were the most specific markers. The combination of CK5 with P-cadherin, Vimentin or CK14 proved to be a reliable option for distinguishing the basal phenotype, compared to the "gold standard" pair CK5/EGFR. Furthermore, P-cadherin was still able to recognize a large number of putative BLBC among the "unclassified" group (ER-/PR-/HER2-/CK5-/EGFR-).



P-cadherin, Vimentin and CK14 can recognize BLBC already identified in triple negative/ CK5 and/or EGFR+ tumors, and due to P-cadherin sensitivity for BLBC identification this marker can reliably recruit a large number of breast carcinomas with basal phenotype among immunohistochemistry triple negative/ CK5 and/or EGFR - pool of tumors. Although they need GEP validation, our results can introduce the idea of these markers as additional options in the daily workup of breast pathology laboratories to identify BLBC.
Sousa
Bárbara
B
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.
Paredes
Joana
J
Milanezi
Fernanda
F
Lopes
Nair
N
Martins
Diana
D
Dufloth
Rozany
R
Vieira
Daniella
D
Albergaria
André
A
Veronese
Luiz
L
Carneiro
Vitor
V
Carvalho
Sílvia
S
Costa
José Luis
JL
Zeferino
Luiz
L
Schmitt
Fernando
F
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics
D015820:Cadherins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D014746:Vimentin