Analysis of the role of E-cadherin and cytokeratin 5/6 in sub classification of breast cancer

Abstract

Different cytokeratins are expressed in different epithelial types and at different stages of differentiation. Consequently, different epithelial types have different specific cytokeratin expression profiles, which usually remain constant after neoplastic transformation. E-cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates a cell–cell adhesion in the epithelial tissues. The intracytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin binds to the actin cytoskeleton through interactions with catenin proteins p120, b- catenin, a-catenin, and dcatenin in the cytoplasm. The study material included all the breast specimens (n=180) received as modified radical mastectomy with exclusion criteria of post radiotherapy and post chemotherapy in histologically proven cases of carcinoma of the breast. IHC with CK 5/6 was done in six cases, of which three cases are with DCIS component, one case of intraductal papillary ca, one case of lobular carcinoma, one case of tubular carcinoma.