title: Abnormal expression of serum soluble E-cadherin is correlated with clinicopathological features and prognosis of breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased amounts of soluble E-cadherin (E-cad) have been found in the serum in various cancers, but the role of serum soluble E-cad in the prognosis of breast cancer patients has not been explored in Asian populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 111 consecutive patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 healthy controls were investigated.Serum soluble E-cad expression levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) with an immunoassay kit according to the manufacturer's directions. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to evaluate the association between serum soluble E-cad expression level and survival. All statistical tests were 2-sided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of soluble E-cad in breast cancer patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (2218.9±319.6 ng/ml vs. 742.8±91.7 ng/ml, p<0.001). Serum levels of soluble E-cad correlated significantly with TNM stage (P=0.007), tumor grade (P=0.03), and lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test indicated that high serum levels of soluble E-cad had a significant impact on overall survival (55.4% vs. 81.4%; P=0.032) and disease-free survival (36.8% vs. 67.8%; P=0.002) in breast cancer. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum levels of soluble E-cad were independently associated with overall survival and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum soluble E-cad level is an independent prognostic factor in Asian breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Shandong University, Jinan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xue-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Li-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Rong-Zhan
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins