Immunohistochemical E-cadherin Expression and Response to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Subjects

• Published in: Indian journal of surgery Vol. 83; no. Suppl 2; pp. 421 - 426
• Main Authors: Korpal, Manit, Yelamanchi, Raghav, Durga, C. K., Bharadwaj, Meenakshi, Kambalimath, Chandrashekhar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 01.06.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adjuvant treatment; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cardiac Surgery; Chemotherapy; Immunohistochemistry; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Neurosurgery; Original Article; Pediatric Surgery; Plastic Surgery; Progesterone; Proteins; Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy; Immunohistochemistry; Breast carcinoma; Prognostic markers of breast carcinoma; E-cadherin
• ISSN: 0972-2068; 0973-9793
• DOI: 10.1007/s12262-020-02576-2

Cell-cell adhesion, which is essential for the maintenance of epithelial plasticity, is mediated by a class of proteins called cadherins. Immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin has been reported to be important in predicting response to chemotherapy in breast cancer subjects. An inverse relationship has been documented between expression of E-cadherin and invasiveness of tumors. The aim of the study is to assess E-cadherin expression in patients of carcinoma breast and to study correlation of E-cadherin expression with clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A prospective single-center study was conducted with a sample size of 33 patients of carcinoma breast who were planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. E-cadherin expression in core needle biopsy specimens was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The response of the patients to chemotherapy was assessed clinically and pathologically. E-cadherin expression has no association with tumor size and grade, lymph node status, and estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or Her-2/neu receptor positivity. Stronger expression of E-cadherin intensity and proportion was associated with good clinical response as well as higher pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. E-cadherin expression correlates with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients of carcinoma breast, indicating its role as prognostic marker in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.