EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein in the primary lesions and paired metastatic regional lymph nodes in breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Various biological parameters are now being evaluated as predictors for the response of chemohormonal therapy for breast cancer. Few studies compare these parameters between the primary lesions and metastatic regional lymph nodes of breast cancer.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analyses for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB2 and p53 protein were performed on the primary lesions and matching metastatic regional lymph nodes of 107 breast cancers. The intensity of the immunoreactivity was graded for heterogeneous or 10-50% staining, and diffuse or >50% staining.


RESULTS
EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein showed a concordance between the primary lesions and matching regional lymph nodes in terms of a negative or positive finding (+ and ++) in 98 (92%) of 106 cases, 76 (100%) of 76 cases and 79 (93%) of 85 cases respectively, while EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein also showed a concordance in the intensity of the immunoreactivity in 24 (89%) of 27 cases 14 (74%) of 19 cases and 30 (94%) of 32 cases respectively. In 21 of 24 cases which showed a disconcordance in the positivity or the intensity of the positivity of EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein, one of the primary lesions and matching regional lymph nodes showed heterogeneous or 10-50% immunostaining.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunoreactivity of EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein shows a concordance between the primary lesions and matching metastatic regional lymph nodes in a majority of breast cancers.
Tsutsui
S
S
Department of Breast Surgery, Beppu National Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
Ohno
S
S
Murakami
S
S
Kataoka
A
A
Kinoshita
J
J
Hachitanda
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046508:Culture Techniques; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53