Through fusion between macrophages and breast cancer cells, expression of E-cadherin is downregulated and expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and snail are upregulated, together with increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and S100A4. Here, CDH2 is linked to breast carcinoma.