Expression of Mesothelial Marker Calretinin in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Calretinin (CR) is a calcium binding protein of calmodulin superfamily, a widely used marker for mesothelial differentiation. It is also found to be expressed in breast carcinoma. Breast carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer death in women and despite new approaches and advances, it is still difficult to predict the behaviour of the tumour and its prognosis. So there is a need and struggle to identify new markers for prognosis of breast cancer. The study is aimed at evaluating the frequency of Calretinin expression in breast carcinoma and assessing the characteristics of Calretinin positive tumours. Thirty mastectomy specimen of invasive breast carcinoma were analysed histopathologically and for immunohistochemical expression of ER, PR, HER2/neu and Calretinin. In this study 93.33% (28 cases) were of invasive carcinoma, NST and 6.67% were of other subtypes. Patients less than 40 years of age showed low CR expression and patients over 40 showed high CR expression (p = 0.22). Grade 3 tumours showed high CR, grades 1 and 2 showed low CR expression. Lymph node positive cases showed high CR and lymph node negative cases showed low CR. Tumours less than 5cms in size show low CR expression and those over 5cms showed high CR expression (p = 0.38). Negative ER, PR and HER2/neu showed high CR expression. CR expression was high in 54.5% of basal-like subtype and 66.7% of HER2-enriched.CR expression was low in 50% of luminal cases. High Calretinin expression was seen in grade 3, HER2-enriched and basal-like subtypes of breast cancer which may be of considerable prognostic significance.

Expression of Calretinin in Carcinoma Breast in Correlation with Various Histological and Molecular Subtypes

“…Our study has shown results similar to the study by Aboobacker et al [17] as both the studies has been conducted in a low study population whereas the other studies compared shows a higher study population which can explain the significant correlation.The study by Farrag et al [19] has showed maximum number of cases under grade I and II and among these cases maximum showed low expression and the grade III tumours, maximum showed high calretinin expression (p<0.05).…”

“…The study by Aboobacker et al [17] also showed no significant correlation between age and Calretinin expression (p>0.05). Another study by Faraag et al [14] showed that calretinin expression is independent of age of the patient.…”

“…Aboobucker et al [17] has showed maximum calretinin expression of the luminal subtypes followed by the basal subtype and the least in the HER2 enriched type (p>0.05). Taliano et al [13] has showed the maximum expression of the calretinin in the basal subtype followed by Luminal B subtype, Luminal A subtype and least in the HER2 enriched subtype and unclassified cases (p>0.05).The study by Faraag et al [19] has showed the high expression of calretinin more in the basal subtype and the low expression was maximum in the Luminal A subtype and least in the HER2 enriched subtype.…”

“…Aboobucker et al [17] has showed that the high expression of calretinin was seen maximally in cases with lymph node spread (p>0.05). Farrag et al [19] have showed that the low expression of calretinin was higher in cases without lymph node spread (p>0.05).…”