HER-2 positivity and correlations with other histopathologic features in breast cancer patients--hospital based study.
OBJECTIVE
To review HER-2 status and its correlation with all other prognostic histopathological features of all Breast Cancer (BC) patients diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2004 at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) in the western region of Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
Histopathology specimens were examined by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and labeled as HER-2/neu positive when Hercep Test score was three plus (3+).


RESULTS
HER-2/neu was reported only in 145 patients out of 260. Out of 145 patients, it was positive in 41 patients (28.3%), negative in 104 patients (71.7%). Correlations between HER-2/neu status and age, race and other prognostic histopathologic features revealed: No correlation with age (or < or = 40 Y vs >40 Y with a p-value of 0.552), race (Saudis vs Non-Saudis with a p-value of 0.133), histopathology subtype (p=0.980), tumor size (p=0.455), number of positive lymph nodes (p=0.660), tumor grade (p=0.062), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.055) and progesterone receptor (PR) status (p=0.069) but positive correlation only with estrogen receptor status (ER) (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
HER-2/neu over expression was positive in 28.3% of the tested specimens of BC which is consistent with what was reported in literature. It was found to correlate inversely with ER status. Routine testing is mandatory because of its prognostic value and impact on further management.
Department of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud S
MS
Al-Ahwal
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone