Expressions of epithelial cell adhesion molecule, vimentin and N-cadherin in molecular subtypes of breast cancer and the correlation among them.
- Author:
Limei FU
1
;
Min LIU
2
;
Xuemei YU
1
;
Xinjun LI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Binzhou People's Hospital, Binzhou Shandong 256610, China.
2. Department of Cardiovascular, Binzhou People's Hospital, Binzhou Shandong 256610, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Antigens, CD;
Biomarkers, Tumor;
Breast Neoplasms;
chemistry;
classification;
genetics;
Cadherins;
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition;
Female;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Neoplasm Grading;
Neoplasm Staging;
Prognosis;
Receptor, ErbB-2;
Receptors, Estrogen;
Receptors, Progesterone;
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms;
Vimentin
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2016;41(11):1137-1142
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
To examine the expressions of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), vimentin and N-cadherin in breast cancer and its molecular subtypes, and to explore the correlation among them.
Methods: The expressions of EpCAM, vimentin and N-cadherin were detected by immunohistochemistry in 835 patients with breast cancer, and their correlations with clinical pathological features and prognosis were analyzed.
Results: The expression rates of EpCAM, vimentin and N-cadherin in the patients were 53.4%, 11.4% and 9.7% respectively, which were increased with the increase in tumor size, histological grade, lymph node size, tumor node stage of metastases classification, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor levels (all P<0.05). The positive expression rates for EpCAM protein in luminal A, luminal B (HER2-), luminal B (HER2+), HER2 overexpression and triple-negative subtypes were 19.2%, 73.0%, 48.9%, 72.2%, and 62.1% respectively; for vimentin were 3.9%, 11.4%, 14.1%, 11.1%, and 20.5% respectively; for N-cadherin were 7.0%, 5.7%, 12.0%, 12.2% and 17.4% respectively, with statistical difference (all P<0.05). EpCAM expression was positively correlated with vimentin and N-cadherin in patients with breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
Conclusion: EpCAM is overexpressed in triple-negative subtype of breast cancer and it is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, which might be related to breast cancer progression and metastasis.
