The percentages of tumour expression (%) of the seven biomarkers in malignant cells of encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC), non-papillary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and conventional invasive carcinoma of the breast
| Biomarker | EPC %; median (range) | DCIS %; median (range) | p Value EPC versus DCIS | Invasive carcinoma %; median (range) | p Value EPC versus invasive | p Value DCIS versus invasive |
| MMP-1 | 65%; 15 (0–170) | 10%; 0 (0–10) | 0.009 | 80%; 60 (0–300) | 0.024 | <0.001 |
| MMP-2 | 77%; 30 (0–160) | 70%; 13 (0–140) | 0.115 | 86%; 80 (0–300) | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| MMP-7 | 100%; 140 (20–300) | 90%; 105 (0–270) | 0.537 | 86%; 200 (0–300) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| MMP-9 | 77%; 40 (0–160) | 60%; 5 (0–150) | 0.046 | 80%; 80 (0–200) | 0.083 | 0.003 |
| TGF-β1 | 65%; 30 (0–150) | 10%; 0 (0–20) | 0.001 | 13%; 0 (0–160) | <0.001 | 0.631 |
| VEGF | 100%; 160 (20–160) | 100%; 160 (30–160) | 0.786 | 83%; 120 (0–300) | 0.603 | 0.483 |
| E-cadherin | 100%; 170 (120–300) | 100%; 200 (200-300) | 0.059 | 89%; 200 (0–300) | 0.502 | 0.244 |
%= percentage of positivity of expression as defined by ≥10% expression.
p Value is estimated using H-score as continuous variables; however, the same results were obtained using percentage of expression.
MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; TGF, transforming growth factor receptor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.