EXPRESSION OF E-CADHERIN CATENIN COMPLEXES IN BREAST-CANCER - CORRELATION WITH FAVORABLE PROGNOSTIC FACTORS AND SURVIVAL/

Expression of E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins were studie d in 100 patients with primary breast cancer compiled of 57 invasive d uctal carcinomas (IDC) and 43 invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) by mea ns of immunohistochemistry. Loss of E-cadherin was observed in 26 (45. 6%), and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression was lacking in 22 (38.6%), 27 (47.4%) and 22 (38.6%) IDCs, respectively. The expression in ILCs was significantly lower, as compared to IDCs (p<0.001). Immuno staining of both E-cadherin and catenins was completely lacking in 27 (47.4%) IDCs and 30 (93.8%) ILCs. Go-expression of E-cadherin/beta-cat enin or E-cadherin/gamma-catenin was preserved more frequently than th at of E-cadherin/alpha-catenin complexes. E-cadherin/catenin complex e xpression showed significant positive correlation with histological di fferentiation (p=0.037), ER (p=0.017) and PR expression (p=0.052), and negative correlation with c-erbB-2 receptor overexpression (p=0.046). Patients with tumours showing adhesion complexes containing alpha-cat enin had an increased overall survival rate compared to other patients . Expression of either E-cadherin or alpha-catenin only, without the f ormation of entire adhesion complexes, was not correlated with overall survival. Thus, determination of both E-cadherin and catenins is sugg ested to add further information to estimate the prognosis of breast c ancer patients.