c-erbB-2 oncoprotein over-expression in breast cancer and its relationship to histology and grade in a Ugandan population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate c-erbB-2 oncoprotein over expression in breast cancer patients of Kyadondo county and also relate this oncoprotein to histological type and grade of the tumour.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University.


METHODS
Seventy two breast cancer patients who were among the 174 entered in survival study had their paraffin breast tissue blocks retrieved from archives of Pathology Department and had their c-erbB-2 determined by peroxidase-labeled streptavidin-biotin immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was over expressed in 33.3% of the tumours and correlated positively with histological grade (p = 0.007). TH oncoprotein over expression was not restricted to any particular histological type and there was no association with age of patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The over expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein observed in one third of breast cancer patients of this African population could partly explain the observed poor survival rate reported in this community.
Nalwoga
H
H
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Odida
M
M
Wabinga
H
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases