Tumor budding in infiltrating breast carcinoma: Correlation with known clinicopathological parameters and hormone receptor status

Abstract

Introduction: Tumor budding (TB) is proposed as an essential step in the invasion and metastasis of various tumors. However, there is limited information about its role in breast cancer. This study was designed to assess the prognostic significance of TB in clinical practice.

Objectives: To study and grade TB in patients with invasive breast cancer and to correlate it with known prognostic parameters.

Materials and methods: In this prospective study, 40 cases of invasive breast cancer were studied over a period of 1.5 years. Tumor buds were defined as comprising five tumor cells or less at the invasive front of the tumor. Cases were separated into two groups according to TB density as low grade and high grade. Significance and correlation between TB with established clinicopathological parameters and hormone receptor status were studied by Chi-square test. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: All 40 cases in this study were newly diagnosed cases, who did not receive any therapy. The majority of patients were premenopausal (55%), had small tumor size ≤5 cm (67.5%), had negative lymph nodes (67.5%), had grades 2 and 3 (75%), and presented in stages 1 and 2 pathological stage (62.5%). The majority were estrogen-receptor-negative (62.5%), progesterone-receptor-negative (65%), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive (52.5%). Higher grade TB was observed in larger tumor (P = 0.03), in higher stage (P = 0.046), and in tumor having lymphovascular emboli (P = 0.03) when compared with small size, lower stage, and tumor with no lymphovascular emboli, respectively.

Conclusion: As higher grade TB was associated with larger, higher stage tumor, and in tumor having lymphovascular emboli, it can be recognized as an easily identifiable prognostic factor.

Keywords: Invasive breast cancer; invasive front; tumor budding.