P-cadherin, Vimentin and CK14 for identification of basal-like phenotype in breast carcinomas: an immunohistochemical study
Bárbara Sousa1, Joana Paredes1, Fernanda Milanezi1, Nair Lopes1, Diana Martins1, Rozany Dufloth2, Daniella Vieira2, André Albergaria1,3, Luiz Veronese4, Vitor Carneiro5, Sílvia Carvalho1, José Luis Costa1, Luiz Zeferino6 and Fernando Schmitt1,7
1Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, 2Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil, 3Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, 4Department of Pathology, General Hospital of UNIMED - Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, 5Department of Pathology of Hospital of Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas/SP, Brazil and 7Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Offprint requests to: Fernando Schmitt, IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal e-mail: fschmitt@ipatimup.pt
Summary. Introduction: The most suitable immunohistochemical criterion to identify basal-like breast carcinomas (BLBC), a molecular subgroup of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis, is the triple negative phenotype along with CK5 and/or EGFR immunoreactivity. However, several putative basal markers have been suggested as alternatives to identify BLBC with more accuracy. Experimental Design: The expression of CK5, EGFR, P-cadherin, CK14, Vimentin and p63 were evaluated in 462 invasive breast carcinomas to determine their sensitivity and specificity for BLBC identification. Results: P-cadherin and CK5 showed higher sensitivity values, while EGFR, Vimentin and CK14 were the most specific markers. The combination of CK5 with P-cadherin, Vimentin or CK14 proved to be a reliable option for distinguishing the basal phenotype, compared to the “gold standard” pair CK5/EGFR. Furthermore, P-cadherin was still able to recognize a large number of putative BLBC among the “unclassified” group (ER-/PR-/HER2-/CK5-/EGFR-). Conclusions: P-cadherin, Vimentin and CK14 can recognize BLBC already identified in triple negative/ CK5 and/or EGFR+ tumors, and due to P-cadherin sensitivity for BLBC identification this marker can reliably recruit a large number of breast carcinomas with basal phenotype among immunohistochemistry triple negative/ CK5 and/or EGFR - pool of tumors. Although they need GEP validation, our results can introduce the idea of these markers as additional options in the daily workup of breast pathology laboratories to identify BLBC. Histol Histopathol 25, 963-974 (2010)
Key words: Basal-like breast cancer, P-cadherin, CK14, Vimentin
DOI: 10.14670/HH-25.963