Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (Sep 2022)

Assessment of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Breast Carcinoma and its Association with Histopathological Grading, Size and Metastasis

  • Hage Nobin,
  • Sayeedul Hasan Arif,
  • Afzal Anees ,
  • Mohd Khalid

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2022/58167.16813
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 9
pp. EC01 – EC04

Abstract

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Introduction: Carcinoma breast is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide. Early detection is key to its effective management. Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) has implications in progression of breast carcinoma and metastasis. Aim: To assess use of EMT Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers in breast carcinoma and its association with histopathological grading, size and metastasis. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital-based descriptive study was carried on patients of breast carcinoma attending the Outpatient Department of Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India, from July 2011 to October 2013. Total of 167 cases of carcinoma breast specimens were received in the department. Histopathological examination of 67 mastectomy specimen was done and graded using Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grading system. Lymph nodes found were screened for metastasis. Subsequently IHC study with cytokeratin 5/6 and vimentin were done to assess EMT in 67 out of 167 cases. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 15.0 USA. Results: Using SBR grading system, 11 (16.4%) cases were of grade I, 34 (50.7%) cases of grade II and 22 (32.8%) cases were of grade III. Out of total, 3/11 (27.3%) of grade I, 23/34 (67.6%) of grade II and 20/22 (90.9%) of grade III tumour were found to have metastasis. Positivity for cytokeratin 5/6 and vimentin were 3/11 (27.3%) and 7/11 (63.6%) respectively in grade I tumours. Grade II tumours showed 2/34 (5.9%) positivity for cytokeratin 5/6 and 21/22 (95.5%) for vimentin. Positivity for cytokeratin 5/6 was 0 and 95.5% (21/22) for vimentin in grade III tumours. Conclusion: Increase in metastasis was seen with progression of grade. Down regulation of cytokeratin 5/6 and upregulation of vimentin was observed as the grade of tumour increased.Cytokeratin 5/6 and vimentin may be used to assess EMT which in turn shows higher chances of metastasis.

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