title: E-cadherin expression in molecular types of breast carcinoma.
abstract: E-cadherins are epithelial morphological stabilizers, performing complex functions as receptors, providers of cellular and tissular structural integrity, and functional interactive mediators. Structural and functional unbalance initiated due to E-cadherin expression loss results in direct effects on carcinogenesis specific biological processes, as cellular invasion and proliferation. We investigated the E-cadherin expression aiming (i) to identify the differences in the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, (ii) to analyze the correlations between E-cadherin and specific clinicopathological and molecular characteristics. The study included 42 cases that were investigated immunohistochemically using a panel of antibodies (ER, PR, Her2/neu, CK5/6, EGFR), which permitted a diagnostic in compliance with the molecular classification, followed by the E-cadherin evaluation. The semi-quantitative assessment of E-cadherin was performed using a scoring system based on the positive cells percentage and the staining intensity. Our results showed, according to the molecular subtypes, a strong positive E-cadherin expression in 26 cases (luminal A subtype - nine cases, luminal B subtype - five cases, HER2 subtype - three cases, basal-like subtype - seven cases, unclassified subtype - two cases), and a weak positive one in 16 cases (luminal A subtype - six cases, luminal B subtype - eight cases, HER2 subtype - one case, basal-like subtype - one case). The statistical analysis revealed significantly statistical differences between E-cadherin and tumoral grade (p=0.0208), histological subtype (p=0.0081), triple negative molecular subtypes and non-triple negative, respectively (p=0.0361). These findings support the potential value of E-cadherin for a supplementary differentiation of molecular subtypes, based on the biological significance of its capacity of expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphofunctional Sciences - Histology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iassy, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ionescu Popescu
authors.forename: Simona Eliza
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Giuşcă
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liliac
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avadanei
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceauşu
authors.forename: Anca Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cîmpean
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balan
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amălinei
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciobanu Apostol
authors.forename: Irina Draga
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Căruntu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins