title: Differential expression of e-cadherin in primary breast cancer and corresponding lymph node metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  E-Cadherin is a marker with a controversial function. Its role is often interpreted in the context of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In ambiguous cases, it is used as a phenotypic marker of lobular subtype of breast carcinoma. It has been well-studied in primary cancer, but its expression after metastasis is not well-described. The aim of this study was to determine the evolution of E-cadherin expression in no special type (NST) primary breast carcinoma and to correlate this with that in distant, paired nodal metastases (LNM) and molecular classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  We processed 88 invasive breast carcinomas of NST type and their paired LNM. The specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded. Sections were immunostained for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2), basal cytokeratin CK5, nuclear protein Ki67 and E-cadherin with a Leica Bond-Max autostainer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained were grouped into four molecular subtypes: Luminal A, luminal B, HER2-overexpressing, and triple-negative/basal-like. We found that the frequency of E-cadherin expression was higher (95.45%) in primary sites than in LNM (72.73%). E-Cadherin from primary breast cancer correlated positively only with E-cadherin in LNM (p≤0.003). A single positive correlation of E-cadherin with ER (p≤0.007) LNM was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-Cadherin expression is not stable during the metastatic process. Its expression in LNM is lower than in primary sites. E-Cadherin expression in primary sites positively correlates with E-cadherin from LNM.
authors: Department of Histology, Cytology and Embriology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
authors: Veaceslav
authors: V
authors: Fulga
authors: Department of Histology, Cytology and Embriology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
authors: Lucian
authors: L
authors: Rudico
authors: Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Amalia Raluca
authors: AR
authors: Balica
authors: Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania ancacimpean1972@yahoo.com.
authors: Anca Maria
authors: AM
authors: Cimpean
authors: Department of Histology, Cytology and Embriology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
authors: Lilian
authors: L
authors: Saptefrati
authors: Department XII - Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neonatology and Perinatal Care, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Madalin-Marius
authors: MM
authors: Margan
authors: Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Marius
authors: M
authors: Raica
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins
keywords: Molecular subtypes; breast cancer; invasive carcinoma NST type; metastasis