Expression of vimentin in breast carcinoma and its correlation with histopathological parameters

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Despite various treatment and diagnostic options, Breast cancer remains one of the top cancer in women both in developed and the developing world. In such a scenario, Immunohistochemistry plays an important role in pathology of breast disease which contributes for solving diagnostic problems and for determining prognosis and response to therapy. There is growing list of IHC markers available, the present study highlights the importance of vimentin a mesenchymal marker in breast carcinoma cases. Objectives of the Study: 1) To assess the expression of vimentin in various types of breast carcinomas.2) To find out the correlation between expression of vimentin and prognostic markers such as tumor size, tumor grade and lymph node status. Materials and Methods: The study included 50 cases of modified radical mastectomy specimens received in the Department of Pathology, during December 2017 to May 2019. After collecting the history, the specimens were examined, fixed in 10% formalin and sections were studied by hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically.Results: In the present study majority of the patients were in the age group of <40 years (Mean age-51 years). Vimentin expression was seen in 23/50 (46%) of cases. Its expression was correlated significantly with high grade tumors (P value<0.05) indicating epithelial to mesenchyamal transition of tumor cells. Majority of the tumors were of grade 2(48%) and diagnosed histopathologically as invasive carcinoma breast NST. Vimentin expression did not correlate with lymph node status and tumor size (P value<0.05). Interpretation and Conclusion:Vimentin is preferentially expressed in high grade tumours. Its expression has no correlation with tumour size and nodal metastasis, which could aid in early treatment and prolonged survival rate among patients independent of other prognostic parameters.

Canine follicular cell and medullary thyroid carcinomas: Immunohistochemical characterization

“…In people with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, 53% of papillary thyroid carcinomas and 75% of follicular thyroid carcinomas are positive for vimentin. 3,5 Overexpression of vimentin in human cancers correlates with increased tumor invasiveness and metastasis. 38 In the healthy canine thyroid gland, vimentin is expressed by the immature follicular cells and is not present in the typical thyroid follicles, suggesting it may be associated with decreased cellular differentiation.…”