The loss of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer

  • Authors:
    • R. Yoshida
    • N. Kimura
    • Y. Harada
    • N. Ohuchi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.3.513
  • Pages: 513-520
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Abstract

Loss of E-cadherin and catenin expression may be associated with distant and lymph node metastases in breast cancer. Heterogeneity of E-cadherin expression is associated with poor prognosis, suggesting that E-cadherin and catenins may serve as useful prognostic markers for invasive breast carcinoma. Reduction or loss of expression of either E-cadherin or catenins is associated with invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis in several types of human malignancies. We investigated the expression of E-cadherin, and α- and β-catenins by immunohistochemistry in 171 cases of primary invasive breast cancer, and compared the expression with clinicopathological parameters to define the relationship between expression and prognosis. E-cadherin immunoreactive protein was shown to be expressed in 97 cases. Reduction or lack of expression of E-cadherin was associated with distant metastasis. Based on immunohistochemical heterogeneity, E-cadherin-positive tumors were classified into heterogeneous, homogeneous and intermediate types. Interestingly, although patients with heterogeneous type demonstrated the lowest incidence of distant metastasis at diagnosis, they showed a higher incidence of subsequent distant metastasis, after surgery, and a lower survival rate than those with homogeneous type (p<0.05). E-cadherin expression was reduced or negative in metastatic axillary lymph nodes regardless of the expression in the primary tumor, suggesting that changes in E-cadherin expression are associated with not only distant metastasis but also lymph node metastasis. Tumors negative for either α- or β-catenin expression demonstrated a higher incidence of distant metastasis than those expressing both catenins, suggesting that the expression of catenins is involved in breast cancer metastasis. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin and catenin expression may be associated with distant and lymph node metastases in invasive breast cancer, and the heterogeneous type may be associated with poor prognosis.

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March 2001
Volume 18 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Yoshida R, Kimura N, Harada Y and Ohuchi N: The loss of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer. Int J Oncol 18: 513-520, 2001
APA
Yoshida, R., Kimura, N., Harada, Y., & Ohuchi, N. (2001). The loss of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 18, 513-520. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.3.513
MLA
Yoshida, R., Kimura, N., Harada, Y., Ohuchi, N."The loss of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer". International Journal of Oncology 18.3 (2001): 513-520.
Chicago
Yoshida, R., Kimura, N., Harada, Y., Ohuchi, N."The loss of E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer". International Journal of Oncology 18, no. 3 (2001): 513-520. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.3.513