Expression of MUC-1 and CD44v6 in breast carcinoma and its significance

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of MUC-1 and CD44v6 in breast carcinoma and its diagnostic value.Methods 93 cases of breast carcinoma were examined by immunohistochemical method for MUC-1 and CD44v6.Results The positive rates of MUC-1 and CD44v6 were 71.0 ％ (66/93) and 63.4 ％ (59/93),respectively.The expression of MUC-1 in breast carcinoma was correlated with histologic differentiation (14.3 ％,69.4 ％,100.0 ％) and lymph node metastasis (22.9 ％,100.0 ％) (x2 =36.147,63.047,both P ＜ 0.0001),but had no relationship with the type of breast carcinoma,tumor clinical stages,and tumor size (all P ＞ 0.05).The expression of CD44v6 in breast carcinoma was correlated with tumor clinical stages (6.3 ％,64.6 ％,93.1％) and lymphnode metastasis (20.0 ％,89.7 ％) (x2 =9.507,45.662,both P＜0.05),but had no relationship with tumor type,tumor clinical stages and tumor size (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion MUC-1 and CD44v6 may play important roles in the development of breast carcinoma and the biologic behavior of breast carcinoma may be closely related with over expression of MUC-1 and CD44v6 protein.MUC-1 and CD44v6 can be used to predict the prognosis and direct the treatment of breast carcinoma. Key words: Breast carcinoma ; MUC-1 ; CD44v6 ; Prognosis