Immunohistochemical expression of Neurogenic Locus Notch Homolog 4 (Notch4) in invasive breast carcinoma: Correlation with clinicopathological parameters and immunohistochemical-based subtypes

Introduction: Starting out with its discovery as small notches on fly wings, Neurogenic Locus Notch Homolog 4 (Notch4) signaling has been sparked as unique pathway implicated in cellu-lar multiplication, differentiation, and regulation of stem cells. Its aberrant activation causes arrays of cancers including breast cancer.Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expres-sion level of Notch4 and its subcellular localization in invasive breast carcinoma. The correlation between Notch4 expression and both of clinicopathological parameters and immunohistochemical-based subtypes of studied cases was also assessed. Methods and materials: Immunohistochemical expression of Notch4 receptor was examined in 60 specimens of paraffin-embedded sections of invasive breast cancer. Normal and hyperplastic breast tissue adjacent to carcinoma cells was also included in the study.Results: There was a significant increase in the expression level of Notch4 protein in breast cancer, compared to that of normal breast tissue and hyperplastic breast lesions. Also, there was a statistical significant correlation between Notch4 expression level and tumor size, tumor grade, nodal metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (her2) status, Her2-enriched and triple negative subtypes, and Ki67. Furthermore, an inverse significant correlation was found between Notch4 expression and both of age and estrogen receptor (ER). No statistical significant correlation was found between Notch4 expression and tumor histological subtypes, Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and fibrosis.Conclusion: Notch4 overexpression has been implicated in breast cancer development, pro-gression and emergence of aggressive biological phenotypes.(c) 2020 SESPM. Published by Elsevier Espan similar to a, S.L.U. All rights reserved.