THE EXPRESSION OF E-CADHERIN AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN BREAST-CANCER

We examined the clinical significance of E-cadherin expression in 98 p atients with breast cancer. E-cadherin expression significantly correl ated with histologic grade (p=0.0323) and tended to correlate with the absence of axillary lymph node metastases (p=0.0646). The expression of E-cadherin was associated significantly with the recurrence rate (p =0.0334) and marginally associated with disease-free (p=0.0597) but no t overall survival, in univariate analysis. The association between E- cadherin expression and disease-free survival was lost in multivariate analysis. The prognostic value of E-cadherin expression in breast can cer appears to be limited. A larger, prospective study with long-term follow-up is needed.