C-erb B2 oncoprotein expression. Correlation with the Ki-67 labeling index and AgNOR counts in breast carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of C-erb B2 on-coprotein and study its correlation with the Ki-67 labeling index and silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) counts on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of breast carcinoma.


METHODS
In a prospective study, FNAC was done on 60 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast. Smears from aspirates were either air dried and methanol fixed for May-Grüwald-Giemsa and silver staining for AgNORs or wet fixed for Papanicolaou and immunocytochemical staining for Ki-67 and C-erb B2.


RESULTS
Breast carcinoma showing overexpression of C-erb B2 had higher Ki-67 labeling indexes (mean, 21.43) and higher AgNOR counts (mean, 37.92). A statistically significant correlation (r = .8) was seen between AgNOR counts and the Ki-67 labeling index.


CONCLUSIONS
FNAC proved suitable for studying C-erb B2 oncoprotein expression and the Ki-67 labeling index by immunocytochemistry. These parameters supplement the cytologic diagnosis.
Sinha
S K
SK
Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
Singh
U R
UR
Bhatia
A
A
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D012008:Recurrence; D012835:Silver Nitrate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004396:Coloring Agents; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D012835:Silver Nitrate