REDUCED EXPRESSION OF MOLECULES OF E-CADHERIN-CATENIN COMPLEX IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CARCINOMAS IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AND ASSOCIATION WITH VIMENTIN AND ALDH1

MASILI-OKU, S (INSTITUTO DO CÂNCER DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO), FREITAS, G.B. (INSTITUTO DO CÂNCER DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO), BARACAT, E.C. (FACULDADE DE MEDICINA USP), BACCHI, C.E. (DEPARTAMENTO DE PATOLOGIA- FMUSP), FILASSI, J.R. (INSTITUTO DO CÂNCER DO ESTAD

FMUSP- INSTITUTO DO CÂNCER DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOTriple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs) correspond to a molecular heterogeneous disease defined by lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, and the absence of overexpression and/or amplification of HER2. The E-cadherin/β-catenin complex plays an essential role in maintaining epithelial integrity. Aberrant expression and disruption of this complex affect the adhesive repertoire of a cell and are associated with a process known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Vimentin expression by neoplastic cells is used as surrogate of EMT. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been implicated in the metastasis and recurrence due to treatment resistance. Furthermore, CSCs exhibit characteristics of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT). Aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1) plays a significant role in the survival and differentiation of CSC and is related to aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis We analyzed the immunohistochemistry expression of e-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin and ALDH1 among TNBC of premenopausal patients and the association to each other. We selected 109 samples of tumors from consecutive premenopausal patients and we prepared tissue microarrays for immunohistochemical study Reduced expression of e-cadherin and β-catenin were identified in 31/109 (28.4%) and 13/109 cases (11.9%), respectively. Seventy-seven of 109 (70.6%) cases presented both e-cadherin and β-catenin expressed. The expression of vimentin was presented in 98/109 (89.9%). Expression of ALDH1 in tumor cells was identified in 22(20.2%) cases, of these, only 4 (3.7%) in more than 50% of cells. No association was demonstrated between the molecules of e-cadherin-catenin complex, vimentin and ALDH1 The lack of association of the molecules related with a common pathway of tumoral progression (EMT) reinforces the molecular heterogeneity of TNBC, indicating that more complex mechanisms are involved in their biological behavior.breast cancer, immunohistochemical markers, TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

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