C-terminal tensin-like (Cten) is a marker for poorly differentiated breast cancer. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of Cten in invasive breast carcinoma in our population and correlated it with known histopathologic prognostic variables.
Fifty-seven specimens of modified radical mastectomy diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma were collected. The histopathologic findings were noted independent of the result of Cten. According to the results of Cten immunohistochemistry, the tumors were categorized as negative/mild, moderate, or high expression and were statistically corelated with histologic findings.
In our study, 47 (82.5%) cases showed negative/mild expression, 2 (3.5%) cases showed moderate staining, and 8 (14%) cases showed strong expression of Cten.
Positive Cten was present in pT4 stage tumors. Similarly, grade III tumor showed moderate expression in 2 (3.5%) cases and strong staining in 8 (14%) cases. Posi-tive expression of Cten was observed in cases with lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and high axillary lymph nodal involvement (N3). All these poor prognostic factors were significantly associated with moderate to high expression of Cten.
We found that tumor size and extent, histologic grade, LVI, and lymph node status were significantly associated with Cten expression. C-terminal tensin-like can be used as marker of poor prognosis in breast carcinoma.