Is Sialyl Lewis x Antigen Expression a Prognostic Factor in Patients With Breast Cancer?

Abstract

Sialyl Lewis x (sLe ^x) carbohydrate antigen acts as an adhesion molecule expressed on the surface of cancer cells and is the most important ligand of the selectins present on endothelial cells. sLe^x expression was correlated to the metastatic potential of breast cancer. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the prognostic value of sLe^x in a series of breast carcinomas with long-term follow-up. A total of 127 consecutive patients with primary breast cancer were enrolled and followed for a median of 140 months. Tumor grade, mitotic index, histotype, vascular invasion, and tumor extension and sLe^x were recorded and used in multivariate analysis. sLe^x antigen was expressed in 37 specimens (21%). Survival was similar for sLe^x-positive and sLe^x-negative tumors (62% vs 60%) for overall survival and for disease-free survival (59% vs 56%). Expression of sLe^x antigen in breast cancer is not associated with breast cancer survival.