EXPRESSION OF E-CADHERIN IN 230 INFILTRATING DUCTAL BREAST-CARCINOMA - RELATIONSHIP TO CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES

The immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin (E-CD) was correlated to differentiation grade, tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, hormone receptor status and disease outcome in 230 infiltrating ducta l breast carcinomas. E-CD expression was reduced in 116 tumors (50.4%) . Reduced E-CD expression was more frequently found in high histologic al grade and progesterone receptor negative tumors. In contrast, prese rved E-CD expression was more frequently observed in tumors with axill ary lymph node metastasis, particularly in the group of patients with 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes. A weak association between reduced E-CD e xpression and shortened overall survival was found in univariate survi val analysis, that was lost when the patients were adjusted for other pathological factors in multivariate analysis. These data indicate tha t E-CD may be considered a differentiation marker in ductal carcinomas of non special type. However, the relationship between E-CD expressio n and lymph node metastasis and disease outcome remains to be establis hed.