Immunohistochemical determination and grading of CerbB-2 expression in breast cancer: correlation with interpectoral, apical nodal involvement and other prognostic factors

• Authors: Alper Çelik , I. Ebru Arabacı , Unal Erkorkmaz , Suat Kutun , Sabahattin Aslan , Isın Pak , Abdullah Çetin
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

We aimed to investigate the correlation between quantitative CerbB-2 expressions with conventional prognostic factors, and distinct nodal involvement in patients with invasive breast carcinoma. One hundred fifty seven consecutive breast carcinoma patients were retrospectively analysed. Level I–II, Level III, and Rotter (Interpectoral) group lymph nodes were separately examined and recorded. For each patient estrogen receptor (ER), progesteron receptor (PR), CerbB-2, P53 status were defined using immunohistochemistry. Age, tumor localisation, menopausal status, grade and the presence of intraductal component were also recorded. CerbB-2 expression did not correlate with age, localisation and menopausal status. There was a reverse, but weak correlation with tumor size and CerbB-2 expression (p=0.034). In subgroup analysis of CerbB-2 positive cases, the magnitude of CerbB-2 positivity did not correlate with tumor size (p=0.551). In univariate analysis CerbB-2 expression did not correlate with nodal involvement in Level I-II, and Rotter. In subgroup analysis of patients with positive CerbB-2, positivity of CerbB-2 linearly increased with the number of positive lymph nodes in Level I-II, and this difference was significant (p=0,039). There was a significant correlation between CerbB-2 expression and Level III nodal metastases (p=0.005). But this correlation was not significant among CerbB-2 positive patients (p=0.82). P53, PR positivity and the presence of intraductal component did not differ according to oncogene expression. We detected a reverse correlation with ER positivity and CerbB-2 positivity (p=0.011). It is concluded that quantitative expression of CerbB2 positivity increases with nodal involvement in Level I–II axillary lymph nodes, and ER. Also, CerbB-2 positivity is more common among patients with Level III lymph node metastases.

Keywords

EN

CerbB-2; quantification; breast carcinoma; immunohistochemistry; prognostic factors

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-11

Dates

published

1 - 3 - 2007

online

1 - 3 - 2007

Contributors

author

Alper Çelik

• Faculty of Medicine Department of General Surgery, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey

author

I. Ebru Arabacı

• Department of Pathology, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

author

Unal Erkorkmaz

• Faculty of Medicine Department of Biostatistics, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey

author

Suat Kutun

• Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

author

Sabahattin Aslan

• Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

author

Isın Pak

• Department of Pathology, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

author

Abdullah Çetin

• Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-007-0006-6