Expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin Proteins in Breast Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins has been studied in a number of tumors. Reduced expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins seems to be associated with metastasis or disease progression in some tumors, including breast carcinoma. To assess the role of nm23 and E-cadherin in tumor differentiation and metastasis of breast carcinoma, immunohistochemical staining for the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins was performed in paraffin embedded tumor samples from 86 breast carcinomas. The results were as follows 1) Expression of the nm23 protein in breast carcinoma was strong positive in 32 cases (37.2%), weak positive in 26 cases (30.2%), and negative in 28 cases (32.6%) of the cases. Expression of the nm23 protein in breast carcinoma decreased according to histological grade and lymph node metastasis, but was not statistically significant. 2) Expression of the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma was strong positive in 50 cases (58.1%), weak positive in 24 cases (27.9%), and negative in 12 cases (14%) of the cases. Expression of the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma decreased according to histological grade and lymph node metastasis, but was not statistically significant. 3) There was a statistically significant correlation between the expression of the nm23 protein and the E-cadherin protein in breast carcinoma (p<0.05). These results suggest that the expression of the nm23 and E-cadherin proteins is related to tumor differentiation, and may also be an useful prognostic factor in breast carcinoma.