We examined the clinical significance of
E-cadherin and
vimentin expression in 83 patients with breast dancer.
E-cadherin expression was correlated with axillary
metastases, histologic grade, recurrence and disease-free survival, but not with overall survival. On the other hand,
vimentin expression was correlated with axillary
metastases and histologic grade, but not with recurrence, disease-free or overall survival. However, the co-expression of
E-cadherin and
vimentin was associated with axillary
metastases, histologic grade and recurrence, and appeared as the most important prognostic factor in disease-free and overall survival. We therefore concluded that
E-cadherin and
vimentin expression in combination might provide prognostic information for
breast cancer patients.