| Abstract: | Purpose To determine the prognostic significance and long term survival of breast cancer patients with overexpression of the epidermal growth factor Cripto. Methodology 120 formalin fixed paraffin embedded breast cancer specimens were constructed on a tissue microarray and detection of Cripto carried out by immunohistochemical staining. Patients were treated between 1989 and 1995 and the median follow up was 125 months. We examined the association of Cripto positivity with age, menopausal status, grade and size of tumour, lymph node status, tumour type, ER/PR/HER2 status, Ki67 and Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). Results 48% of patients were Cripto positive. We demonstrated a significant association between overexpression of Cripto and NPI (p < 0.01), grade of tumour (p < 0.01), progesterone receptor (p = 0.02), Ki 67 (p = 0.02), tumour type (p = 0.04) and most importantly overall survival (p = 0.0003). Cox regression analysis revealed Cripto to be an independent prognostic variable for survival – HR 2.79 (95% CI 1.20–6.50). Conclusion Overexpression of Cripto is associated with high grade poor prognostic breast cancer and a significantly decreased patient survival. Future research is required to confirm these findings and to develop an anti‐Cripto humanised antibody for clinical use. |
