ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the expression of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in breast carcinoma and analyze the relationship between E-cadherin and ?-catenin and the clinicopathological features. Methods The expression of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in breast cancer, paracarcinoma breast tissue, simple mastoplasia and atypical mastoplasia were detected by immunohistochemical method and the results were compared. Results The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in breast cancer tissue were 51.9% and 61.1 %,respectively. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with histological grade. Abnormal expression of ?-catenin was significantly correlated with TNM staging, axillary lymph nodes metastasis and postoperative distant metastasis. COX multiple factor analysis showed that neither E-cadherin nor ?-catenin expression was an independent indicator for the prognosis of breast cancer. Conclusions Abnormal expressions of E-cadherin and ?-catenin are correlated with occurrence and development of breast carcinoma. Abnormal expressions of E-cadherin and ?-catenin are good indicators to judge invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma.