The impact of caveolin protein expression in tumor stroma on prognosis of breast cancer

We aimed to investigate the expression of caveolin-1, -2, -3, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta receptor in breast cancer cells and stroma by immunohistochemistry and to analyze their implications. The expression rates of stromal caveolin-2 and PDGF beta receptor increased as the tumor progressed from ductal carcinoma in situ to microinvasive ductal carcinoma, intraductal component of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and IDC (p < 0.001). The expression loss of caveolin-1 in tumor stroma of IDC correlated with high tumor stage (p < 0.001), high nodal stage (p = 0.011), high cancer stage (p = 0.005), estrogen receptor negativity (p = 0.003), and tumor recurrence (p = 0.003). In addition, the expression loss of caveolin-1 in tumor stroma was correlated with a shorter disease-free survival and an overall survival (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the loss of stromal caveolin-1 is related to poor prognosis in IDC.