Vimentin expression does not assist in predicting survival in ductal carcinoma of the breast

Aims To establish the value of vimentin expression in predicting survival in patients with breast cancer. Methods Five-year follow-up data were obtained for 68 patients with ductal carcinoma (NOS) of the breast in whom vimentin expression had been studied in fresh frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. The predictive value on survival of tumour size, growth fraction (as assessed using the Ki67 monoclonal antibody), oestrogen receptor status and Bloom and Richardson grade of the primary tumour, and the presence or absence of lymph node metastases in axillary samples, were also studied. Results Twenty-two patients died of their disease within 5 years of diagnosis. Vimentin expression either on frozen or paraffin sections did not provide a statistically significant prediction of survival. On…