Robinson cytologic grading in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast: correlation with E-cadherin and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression and regional lymph node metastasis

OBJECTIVE

To correlate the cytologic grade of breast carcinoma with the expression of E-cadherin/catenin system molecules and the presence of metastasis in regional lymph nodes.

STUDY DESIGN

Aspirate smears were examined together with histologic sections from the corresponding neoplasms taken from 100 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. In 50 cases, > or = 1 metastatic nodes were identified. Cytologic grading of the smears was performed using the Robinson method. Immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin was studied.

RESULTS

A statistically significant relationship was observed between E-cadherin/catenin expression and cytologic grade (p < 0.0005). This association was particularly relevant to the cell dissociation parameter (p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSION

The cytological grade established in preoperative studies may provide relevant information on the aggressiveness of invasive ductal carcinoma and its tendency to produce regional metastasis. This finding could be particularly useful in cases of breast carcinoma in which neoadjuvant therapy is the method of choice.

Robinson cytologic grading of invasive ductal breast carcinoma: correlation with histologic grading and regional lymph node metastasis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the importance of cytologic grading of breast carcinoma and its association with histologic grading and the existence of axillary lymph node metastasis.

STUDY DESIGN

Aspirates and surgical samples from 100 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma not otherwise specified were studied. In 50 patients, > or = 1 metastatic nodes were identified. The cytologic grade was evaluated using the Robinson method and the histologic grade using the Elston modification of the Bloom-Richardson method. A study was undertaken to establish the association between histologic and cytologic grades and to compare the various parameters used to evaluate cytologic grade with the presence of axillary node metastasis.

RESULTS

A statistically significant association was observed between cytologic and histologic grades (p < 0.0005) and between cytologic grade and presence of axillary metastasis (p < 0.0005). Similarly, cell dissociation (p < 0.0005), cell uniformity (p = 0.0010) and the appearance of nuclear margins (p < 0.0005) all displayed a positive correlation with regional metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Cytologic grade may provide relevant information on the aggressiveness of invasive ductal breast carcinoma and could be a useful parameter to take into consideration when selecting neoadjuvant therapy.