E-cadherin expression on fine needle aspiration biopsies of breast invasive ductal carcinomas and its relationship to clinicopathologic factors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate E-cadherin expression on fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of breast ductal invasive carcinomas and to correlate that expression with the grade of the tumors, axillary lymph node status, primary tumor size, menopausal status, estrogen-progesterone receptors and Bcl-2 expression. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred female patients ranging in age from 25 to 82 underwent FNAB under ultrasound guidance and were diagnosed as having breast carcinomas. Biopsy was done with 22-gauge Chiba needles under local anesthesia. All FNAB specimens were stained using Papanicolaou and Giemsa stain, diagnosed cytologically as ductal invasive breast carcinomas and confirmed histologically postoperatively. E-cadherin (LCAM), monoclonal mouse IgG₁, primary antibodies ER (clone 1D₅), PGR (clone PGR) and Bcl-2 monoclonal antibody (clone 124) were used. Immunostaining was performed using the alkaline phosphatase method. RESULTS: The expression (transmembrane) of E-cadherin was found in 66 (66%) cases. Decreased expression of E-cadherin statistically correlated (P <.005) (χ² test) with high grade (grade 3) tumors (26.6%), axillary lymph node metastasis (42.2%) (according to the TNM classification), premenopausal status (43.1%), negative estrogen-progesterone receptors (49.1% and 41%, respectively) and negative Bcl-2 expression (32.2%). No relationship was found between E-cadherin expression and primary tumor size. CONCLUSION: E-cadherin evaluation on FNAB specimens can be helpful in preoperatively predicting tumor cell differentiation and invasiveness, defining a population of patients with breast ductal carcinomas and a possible poor outcome, and should be taken into consideration in management of the disease.