Hormonal Receptor, Human Epidermal Growth Factor and Its Association with Breast Cancer Tumor Characteristics in Albania

Abstract

SUMMARYAim: This retrospective study was designed to analyze expression patterns of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu in Albanian patients with breast carcinoma to identify their relationships with tumor size, histological grade (HG), lymph node metastasis and relapse.Methods: Patients with either biopsy or metastatic relapse were identified. Demographics, tumor characteristics, ER, PR, and HER2/neu status were retrospectively obtained from the medical records of patients treated with breast cancer during 2006-2011. Hormonal receptors and HER2/ neu were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Association of ER, PR and HER2/neu with clinicopathological and molecular characteristics were studied using Fisher's test. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.Results: There were 110 patients included in the study. Mean patient age was 51.08 ± 10.75 years. The overall immunoexpression of ER, PR and HER2/neu were found positive in 76 (69%), 73 (67%), and 16 (41%) patients, respectively. ER− was associated with higher histological grade (24% vs. 9.2%) and PR+ with tumor size (T2, 78.3 vs. 64.3) (p = 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). ER and PR expression were significantly decreased in HER2/neu positive cases while HER2/neu levels correlated with tumor size (p = 0.03) and nodal metastasis (p = 0.03). No association was detected between ER, PR, HER2/neu and relapse.Conclusion: A combination of ER, PR and HER2/neu and prognostic factors could be of clinical value by defining subgroups in Albanian breast cancer patients that might benefit from more aggressive treatment.

Association of hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2/neu expressions with clinicopathologic factors of breast carcinoma: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan

“…Although this study did not report significant association of Her2/neu overexpression with ER ( p = 0.236) and PR ( p = 0.162) positivity, there was reverse relationship between them, this relationship showed that overexpression of Her2/neu which is negative for ER and PR. The same result with significant p value found in the other studies Edlira Pajenga ( p = 0.02) [ 41 ] and H J Huang ( p = 0.001) [ 42 ], Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed and other studies [ 39 , 40 , 43 ] which support the hypothesis of reverse association of ER with Her2/neu. The major difference between the studies with significant p value is because of the sample size; they performed the study on a larger sample (Edlira Pajenga with 123 sample and H J Huang with 1688 samples).…”

“…A significant association of ER with histological grade of the tumor found ( p = 0.014) which show high grade tumors are more ER negative. Same association found statistically significant ( p = 0.001) by Ritu Yadav, Cherry bansal and other seemlier studies [ 30 , 38 , 41 , 46 ] highlights that high grade tumors are negative for ER receptors and show the same relation with PR. Urmila Devi in a similar result found ( p = 0.71) [ 43 ].…”

To evaluate correlation of hormone receptors, Ki67 and human epidermal growth factor with other prognostic factors in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast

“…This study also found that a significant positive correlation was observed between histological grade and ER, Ki67 expression (p<0.05). A study conducted by Pajenga E et al (2016) also reported the same result [8].…”

“…Breast cancer patient survival is linked to early detection, timely appropriate treatment and genetic predisposition. Factors that are known to be important in the prognosis of breast malignancies in individual patients include tumor size, stage of the disease at diagnosis, histological type, tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and hormonal receptor status [2], [8]. Currently, the determination of ER, PR,  Received: 12 October 2021, Accepted: 24 November 2021 Correspondence to: Nguyen Van Phu Thang -Department of Pathology, 108 Military Central Hospital Email: phuthangk39hvqy@gmail.com HER2, Ki67 are routine in the diagnosis of breast cancer [1].…”