Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma

Introduction: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Prior to metastasis, carcinomas undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process wherein cancer cells acquire mobility, form tumor buds (TBs), and invade the stroma. The presence and number of TB...

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Main Authors: Priyadharshini Kumar, Meghashree Vishwanath, Saranyabai Selvaraj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Mid-Life Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jmh.jmh_77_25
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author Priyadharshini Kumar
Meghashree Vishwanath
Saranyabai Selvaraj
author_facet Priyadharshini Kumar
Meghashree Vishwanath
Saranyabai Selvaraj
author_sort Priyadharshini Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Prior to metastasis, carcinomas undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process wherein cancer cells acquire mobility, form tumor buds (TBs), and invade the stroma. The presence and number of TBs are directly proportional to tumor invasion and metastasis. By scoring TBs and using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect EMT process, we can identify patients with poor prognosis after surgical resection. This enables early recognition of patients requiring aggressive treatment and follow-up. Aim: The aim of this study was to propose an algorithm for measuring TB and to establish the correlation between TB with EMT markers expression and main clinical parameters. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analytical study in an urban tertiary health care center involving 47 cases of invasive breast carcinomas. TB was assessed in Haematoxylin & Eosin stained tissue sections followed by IHC with EMT markers. Association between TB, EMT markers, and main clinical parameters was statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: Among 47 cases, 30 had mean-low TB score (≤4/ 10HPF) and 17 had mean-high TB score (>4/10 HPF). Tumors with high TB scoring showed strong SNAIL, TWIST, and N-cadherin expression. Tumors with low TB scores showed high E-cadherin expression and low SNAIL, TWIST, and N-cadherin expression. Conclusion: The study established a positive correlation between TB and EMT markers. High TB scores are significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and higher tumor grading. Using TB score and EMT markers in breast cancer management can facilitate patient-centered approach.
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spelling doaj-art-1caa43d130e043a3b2a47e84a80ce11e2025-07-05T15:58:20ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Mid-Life Health0976-78000976-78192025-04-0116218619110.4103/jmh.jmh_77_25Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast CarcinomaPriyadharshini KumarMeghashree VishwanathSaranyabai SelvarajIntroduction: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Prior to metastasis, carcinomas undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process wherein cancer cells acquire mobility, form tumor buds (TBs), and invade the stroma. The presence and number of TBs are directly proportional to tumor invasion and metastasis. By scoring TBs and using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect EMT process, we can identify patients with poor prognosis after surgical resection. This enables early recognition of patients requiring aggressive treatment and follow-up. Aim: The aim of this study was to propose an algorithm for measuring TB and to establish the correlation between TB with EMT markers expression and main clinical parameters. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analytical study in an urban tertiary health care center involving 47 cases of invasive breast carcinomas. TB was assessed in Haematoxylin & Eosin stained tissue sections followed by IHC with EMT markers. Association between TB, EMT markers, and main clinical parameters was statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: Among 47 cases, 30 had mean-low TB score (≤4/ 10HPF) and 17 had mean-high TB score (>4/10 HPF). Tumors with high TB scoring showed strong SNAIL, TWIST, and N-cadherin expression. Tumors with low TB scores showed high E-cadherin expression and low SNAIL, TWIST, and N-cadherin expression. Conclusion: The study established a positive correlation between TB and EMT markers. High TB scores are significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and higher tumor grading. Using TB score and EMT markers in breast cancer management can facilitate patient-centered approach.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jmh.jmh_77_25breast carcinomae-cadherinepithelial–mesenchymal transitionn-cadherinsnailtwist
spellingShingle Priyadharshini Kumar
Meghashree Vishwanath
Saranyabai Selvaraj
Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
Journal of Mid-Life Health
breast carcinoma
e-cadherin
epithelial–mesenchymal transition
n-cadherin
snail
twist
title Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
title_full Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
title_fullStr Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
title_short Tumour Budding with Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Markers – A Novel Prognostic Tool for Breast Carcinoma
title_sort tumour budding with epithelial mesenchymal transition markers a novel prognostic tool for breast carcinoma
topic breast carcinoma
e-cadherin
epithelial–mesenchymal transition
n-cadherin
snail
twist
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jmh.jmh_77_25
work_keys_str_mv AT priyadharshinikumar tumourbuddingwithepithelialmesenchymaltransitionmarkersanovelprognostictoolforbreastcarcinoma
AT meghashreevishwanath tumourbuddingwithepithelialmesenchymaltransitionmarkersanovelprognostictoolforbreastcarcinoma
AT saranyabaiselvaraj tumourbuddingwithepithelialmesenchymaltransitionmarkersanovelprognostictoolforbreastcarcinoma