Significance of immunohistochemically detected c-erbB-2 protein expression in stage III breast cancer, with reference to nuclear deformity, DNA content and prognosis.
The significance of c-erbB-2 protein expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 32 patients with stage III breast cancer with regard to area, shape factor and DNA content of cancer cell nuclei. Thirty-one percent of the tumors showed c-erbB-2-positive cell membrane staining (10 out of 32 cases), and the cancer cells of the c-erbB-2-positive tumors had larger and more irregular nuclei with an increased DNA content. All patients with c-erbB-2 protein-positive tumors died of the disease within six years of their mastectomy. It can be concluded that positive immunohistochemical staining of c-erbB-2 protein indicates an aggressive biological behavior of the cancer cells as well as a poor prognosis in patients with stage III breast cancer.
Tamura
G
G
Department of Pathology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka.
Maesawa
C
C
Mikawa
S
S
Satodate
R
R
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases