Tumour budding in invasive breast carcinoma and its correlation with histopathological prognostic parameters and hormone receptor status

Introduction: Tumor Budding (TB) is emerging as an important sensitive indicator of aggressiveness over traditional histopathological variables such as lymph node metastasis and lymphovascular invasion because TB at the invasive front was postulated as the first step of invasion and metastasis. But the role of TB in breast carcinoma is not yet standardized. Aim: This study aims to assess the prognostic significance of TB in breast carcinoma. Objectives: To study and grade TB in invasive breast carcinoma and correlate it with known histopathological prognostic markers and hormone receptor status. Materials and Methods: In this ambispective study, 51 cases of invasive breast carcinoma undergoing radical surgery were studied from September 2017 to September 2021. Tumor buds were defined as a single or cluster of up to four tumor cells at the invasive front of the tumor and were counted by using IHC Pancytokeratin in 200X and graded into a three-tier grading system. The correlation between TB with established histopathological parameters and hormone receptor status was studied. A Chi-square test was used and a P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: TB was seen in all cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Grade 1 TB was seen in 37.26% (19/51) of cases and Grade 2 TB and Grade 3 TB in 31.37% (16/51) of cases each. There was a lack of significant correlation between TB with histologic grade, lymph node status, and HER2 neu. Correlation between TB with Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR), and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Prognostic stage group was noted but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Although several studies have confirmed the prognostic value of TB in breast carcinoma, they had used several different methods of assessment. So, there is a need for a standardized method for the assessment of TB in breast carcinoma. Further standardization of TB may add its value as a prognostic factor.