Expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and molecular subtypes and prognosis of breast cancer / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate clinicopathological and prognostic significance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression in breast cancer and its molecular subtypes.
@*METHODS@#The expression of EpCAM in 835 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemical Max VisionTM method, and its correlation with clinical pathological features and prognosis was analyzed.
@*RESULTS@#The positive expression of EpCAM was related to histological grade, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, clinical stage, the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 (P<0.05). The positive expression rates of EpCAM were 19.2%, 73%, 48.9%, 72.2%, and 62.1%, in Luminal A, Luminal B (HER2-), Luminal B(HER2+), HER2+, and triple-negative subtype, respectively. Log-rank test and univariate COX analysis showed that the EpCAM expression was associated with a poor prognosis in all patients (P<0.001), as well as the triple-negative subtype, luminal B subtype (HER2-), and HER2+ subtype (P<0.05). Multivariate COX analysis showed that EpCAM expression was associated with the survival in patients with the triple-negative or HER2+ subtype (P<0.05).
@*CONCLUSION@#EpCAM may be associated with progress of breast cancer. It is an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer, especially in the triple-negative and HER2+ subtypes.