The significance of Survivin and Nectin-4 expression in the prognosis of breast carcinoma

Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 2011;49(1):26-33. doi: 10.5603/fhc.2011.0005.

Abstract

To investigate the prognostic significance of Survivin and Nectin-4 expression in breast carcinomas. Imprint smears were obtained from 140 breast carcinoma specimens and studied immunocytochemically for the expression of Survivin and Nectin-4. The results were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters, including five-year survival. Increased Survivin staining pattern correlated with increased grade (p < 0.0001), increased lymph node invasion (p < 0.0001), increased tumor size and reduced survival (p < 0.0001). Elevated Nectin-4 expression also correlated significantly with increased grade (p < 0.0001), increased tumor size (p < 0.0001) and reduced survival (p < 0.0001). In addition, Survivin and Nectin-4 staining patterns correlated strongly with one another (p < 0.0001). However, on multivariate analysis, neither Survivin nor Nectin-4 expression seemed to have an independent impact on survival in our study cases. The findings of our study suggest that increased expression of Survivin and Nectin-4 may indicate a worse prognosis in breast cancer patients. The exact implications of the expression of these markers in breast cancer prognosis and treatment remain to be clarified.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / analysis*
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate
  • Survivin

Substances

  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Survivin
  • NECTIN4 protein, human