Publication:

A study of correlation of expression of ER, PR and HER2/neu receptor status with clinico-pathological parameters in breast carcinoma at a tertiary care centre

Background In English literature it is documented that the expression of ER and PR is low in Asian countries when compared to that of Western countries. HER2/neu over expression is uniform throughout the world. Studies have shown that triple-negative breast carcinomas are aggressive, likely to spread beyond the breast and recur after treatment.

Aims and objectives To correlate the expression of ER, PR and HER 2/neu with clinico-pathological parameters in infiltrating ductal carcinoma and other variants of breast carcinoma. To determine the clinicopathological parameters in triple negative cases.

Methods This is a prospective study for a period of two years in the Department of Pathology, Andhra Medical College, a tertiary care centre. We received 111 mastectomy specimens during this period out of which 52 patients were funded under Arogyasri and were subjected for ER, PR, HER2/neu receptor study.

Results In the present study total cases analyzed were 52. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was 41/52 (78.84%) and other variants were 11/52 (21.15%). In our institute infiltrating duct cell carcinoma (NOS) type was the commonest type of carcinoma breast with significant group occurring in less than 45 years of age, 95 % of women were multipara with two or more children and triple negative tumors being 54.83%.In infiltrating ductal carcinoma ER, PR positive expression has no association with age and size of tumor. Their expression was higher in grade 1 tumors 83.3%.The ER,PR negative expression was more in size of tumor being greater than 2 cm; (92.5%),positive lymph nodes (51.8%) and stage II and stage III tumors (96.2%). HER2/neu negative expression was seen in 51.61% of cases. Triple negative receptor expression was seen in 54.83% of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In the English literature medullary carcinoma is negative for HER2/neu expression but in the present study in 2 cases the expression for HER2/neu was positive.

Conclusion In the present study significant group occurred in less than 45 years of age presenting in advanced stage of the disease. Triple negative cases were seen in 54.8% cases of infiltrating duct cell carcinoma indicating bad prognosis.