The Expression of Basal Cytokeratins in Breast Cancers

Abstract

Introduction: Treatment for breast cancer is based on the expression of the immunomarkers such as ER, PR and HER2/neu. Cases which are negative to all the three immunomarkers, are called Triple Negative Breast Cancers (TNBC) and they have a poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that some of the TNBCs express cytokeratins CK 5/6 (subcategorizing them as basal-like breast cancers) and these respond well to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Aim and Objectives: To study the expression of basal cytokeratins CK 5/6 in breast carcinomas reported in our centre and to correlate with histological type, grade, size, clinical features and ER, PR and HER2/neu status. Methods: Tissues of 44 cases of breast carcinoma diagnosed between June 2009 and May 2014 were retrieved. Immunohistochemical staining for CK 5/6 was done and it was correlated with parameters such as histopathological type, grade, size, invasion and ER, PR and HER2/neu status.