Relationship between EGF-R, c-erbB-2 protein expression and Ki67 immunostaining in breast cancer and hormone sensitivity.
The expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), c-erbB-2 protein product and Ki67 have been evaluated in 105 breast cancers of known responsiveness to endocrine therapy using immunohistochemistry. EGF-R staining was observed in 62 of the tumours and was significantly associated with elevated rates of cell proliferation (%Ki67 positive cells) and loss of hormone sensitivity. In contrast, c-erbB-2 expression was not correlated with cell proliferation rates and was less strongly related to hormone insensitivity. Subdivision of the EGF-R data according to c-erbB-2 measurements revealed an association between c-erbB-2 immunostaining and worsened patient outlook and hormone insensitivity in moderately EGF-R-positive tumours. c-erbB-2 immunostaining in highly EGF-R-positive tumours did not further contribute to the already poor prognosis of these patients. These data confirm the prognostic importance of EGF-R measurements in breast cancer and may infer a functional interaction between this protein and the c-erbB-2 protein product in the aberrant growth of a subset of breast tumours.
Nicholson
R I
RI
Breast Cancer Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, U.K.
McClelland
R A
RA
Finlay
P
P
Eaton
C L
CL
Gullick
W J
WJ
Dixon
A R
AR
Robertson
J F
JF
Ellis
I O
IO
Blamey
R W
RW
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017273:Goserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008938:Mitosis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017273:Goserelin; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013629:Tamoxifen