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EpCAM expression is an indicator of recurrence in basal-like breast cancer

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Abstract

Advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of breast cancer have necessitated a definition of more sensitive and specific indicators of prognosis that are central to the underlying cancer biology and that reflect the complicated and heterogeneous nature of the disease. This study investigates the expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in breast cancer particularly basal-like phenotype group which remains unclear. EpCAM expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry in a large well-characterised series of breast carcinomas prepared as tissue microarrays. Relationships between EpCAM expression with molecular subtypes, clinicopathological variables and patients’ outcome were examined. EpCAM expression was associated with higher tumour grade (P < 0.001), larger tumour size (P < 0.001) and basal phenotype (P = 0.03). Importantly, within the basal-like tumours those positive for EpCAM showed a significantly shorter DFI (LR = 7.97, P = 0.005) and MFS (LR 4.01, P = 0.045). EpCAM may play a role in breast cancer progression and its expression is associated with poor patient outcome in basal-like breast cancer, independent of other prognostic factors.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Breast Cancer Campaign.

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The authors have no disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pathology, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Ayodeji J. Agboola, E. Claire Paish, Emad A. Rakha, Desmond G. Powe, Ian O. Ellis & Andrew R. Green

  2. Department of Histopathology, O.A.C.H.S, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria

    Ayodeji J. Agboola

  3. The Breast Institute, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    R. Douglas Macmillan

Authors
  1. Ayodeji J. Agboola
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  2. E. Claire Paish
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  6. Ian O. Ellis
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Correspondence to Andrew R. Green.

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Agboola, A.J., Paish, E.C., Rakha, E.A. et al. EpCAM expression is an indicator of recurrence in basal-like breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 133, 575–582 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1813-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1813-7

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