Association between HER-2/neu and the progesterone receptor in oestrogen-dependent breast cancer is age-related.
In oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, HER-2/neu and the progesterone receptor (PR) are inversely associated. This explains a lower response to anti-oestrogens if ER+ breast cancers are HER-2/neu positive. One randomized study however, showed that premenopausal women with an ER+ breast cancer respond to anti-oestrogens independent of HER-2/neu. We therefore hypothesized an age-related association between HER-2/neu and PR in ER+ breast cancers. Receptors for ER, PR and HER-2/neu were analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A uni- and multivariate analyses was carried out to assess this relationship in 1104 women with an ER+ breast cancer. We observed an inverse association between HER-2/neu and PR only after age 45. There were 173 women of age<or=45 and 931 of age>45 years. In multivariate analysis, only tumour grade (p=0.005) but not PR status was associated with HER-2/neu in women age<or=45 years. However, in age>45 years group, both PR status (p=0.001) and tumour grade (p=0.001) were independently associated with HER-2/neu. In ER+ breast cancers from women age>45, PR was positive in 76.9% if HER-2/neu negative but in 53.4% if HER-2/neu positive (p<0.001) and the median quantitative PR levels are 150 and 75 respectively in HER-2/neu negative and HER-2/neu positive tumours (p=0.002). This age effect of HER-2/neu on the PR status was not seen in women age<or=45 years and the median quantitative PR levels are 200 and 220 respectively in HER-2/neu negative and HER-2/neu positive tumours (p=0.518). The study confirms an age-related inverse relationship between HER-2/neu and PR only in women age>45 years but not in women age<or=45 years.
Huang
Huei-Jean
HJ
Division of Gynaecologic Oncology in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Neven
Patrick
P
Drijkoningen
Maria
M
Paridaens
Robert
R
Wildiers
Hans
H
Van Limbergen
Erik
E
Berteloot
Patrick
P
Amant
Frederic
F
Christiaens
Marie Rose
MR
Vergote
Ignace
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone