An evaluation of immunoreactivity for c-erbB-2 protein as a marker of poor short-term prognosis in breast cancer.
Eighty-five breast carcinomas from the same number of patients have been assessed immunohistochemically using the antiserum 21N for the presence of the c-erbB-2 protein. Twenty-two of the patients had evidence of advanced disease (tumour fixation or distant metastases) at presentation. Follow-up was for a median of 24 months. c-erbB-2 protein was detected in the majority of cells in 14 (16.5%) carcinomas, and to a lesser extent in a further six (7%) tumours. There was no relationship between staining and stage, node status or size but more poorly differentiated carcinomas had evidence of staining (36%) than well (17%) or moderately (14%) differentiated carcinomas (P = 0.02). There was a significant association between staining and mortality (P = 0.009) and recurrence (P = 0.0002). The relative risk of death for staining compared to no staining (after adjusting for node status, stage and grade) was 2.97 (95% confidence interval 1.29, 6.84) and the relative risk of recurrence for staining compared to no staining after similar adjustment was 3.85 (95% confidence interval 1.86-7.97). In this particular group of patients immunoreactivity for c-erbB-2 protein is an independent indicator of poor short-term prognosis.
Walker
R A
RA
Department of Pathology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Gullick
W J
WJ
Varley
J M
JM
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases