[Expression of cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin and beta-catenin in infiltrating breast carcinoma].

Distribution of cell-cell adhesion molecules of E-cadherin (EC) and beta-catenin (BC) infiltrating breast carcinoma (BC) and markers of epithelium, basal membrane has been studied by immunofluorescence in 50 infiltrating BC tissue samples including 17 ductal carcinomas, 23 lobular carcinomas and 10 combined carcinomas. Two types of EC-BC structure alterations were found: homogeneity disorder accompanied by appearance of local thickening and gaps or complete lack of these structures. Alterations of type 1 were found in all the analyzed samples of ductal and combined carcinomas and partially in lobular carcinomas, in in situ structures and in invasion components as well. Alterations of type 2 were found in 16 cases of lobular carcinomas of 23 examined. Our data suggest the existence of two groups of lobular BC: carcinomas with partial depletion of EC-BC structures and carcinomas which lost these structures. Further investigations are needed to evaluate clinical importance of the difference found.