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01-06-2012 | Preclinical Study

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

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

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 2/2012

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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Title: EpCAM expression is an indicator of recurrence in basal-like breast cancer
Authors: Ayodeji J. Agboola
E. Claire Paish
Emad A. Rakha
Desmond G. Powe
R. Douglas Macmillan
Ian O. Ellis
Andrew R. Green
Publication date: 01-06-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1813-7

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