E-cadherin Expression in Invasive Mammary Carcinoma

Abstract Background: E-cadherin is an adhesion molecule that is frequently expressed in normal epithelial tissues. It is essential for many cellular processes, including organ formation, stratification, and epithelial polarization. Objective: This study examines E-cadherin expression for subclassifying invasive breast cancer. E-cadherin expression also decreased with age, histopathological type, grade, and stage. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 249 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery at a private facility in Baghdad, Iraq. The patients’ clinical data were analyzed, focusing on age, histopathological type, tumor grade, and tumor stage. Immunohistochemical and histopathological processing and staining were performed to evaluate E-cadherin status in the tumor cells. Results: Mean age of patients 47.92 ± 10.79 years, most age group 40–49 (35.7%), most histopathological type of breast cancer invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC; 81.1%), grade II (67.9%), and stage II (78.3%). Patients have +3 E-cadherin (79.5%). Grade III breast cancer patients have 98% +3 E-cadherin. E-cadherin is unrelated to age, histopathological type, or stage. Conclusion: Decreased E-cadherin expression in breast cancer is associated with higher tumor grade and estrogen receptor status. However, its significance as a prognostic or predictive marker is limited in IDC and special varieties. The study found no significant correlation between E-cadherin expression and age group, histopathological type, or breast cancer stage.