Correlation of hormone receptors with Her-2 Neu protein expression and the histological grade in invasive breast cancers in a cohort of Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Data on Hormone Receptor and Her-2/neu expression in breast cancers from Saudi Arabia and Gulf Region is sparse. We undertook this study to describe the patterns of hormone receptor and Her-2/neu protein expression in breast carcinoma and compared them with the histological grade at a University Hospital in Riyadh.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study on 164 invasive ductal carcinoma of breast between the year 2002 and 2008. Immunohistochemical analysis for Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor and Her-2/neu was done in all the cases. Fluorescent in situ hybridization for Her-2/neu gene amplification was performed in all 2+ cases and few equivocal 1+ and 3+cases by immunohistochemistry. Correlation between Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor and Her-2/ neu amplification and grade of tumor was calculated.


RESULTS
The expression of Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor were significantly correlated (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant negative correlation between expression of hormone receptor and Her-2/neu amplification. The histologic grade of the tumor was significantly correlated to the expression of both Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor. However, the relationship between Her-2/ neu amplification and grade was not significant and many of the grade III tumor were Her-2/neu negative. In addition, Her-2/neu gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization was observed in 84.6% of breast cancer that were 3+ and in 18.75 % cases that were 2+ by immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor expression and Her-2/neu amplification in breast cancer in the Saudi Arabian population is similar to that reported internationally. There is a negative correlation between hormone receptors expression and Her-2/neu amplification. However not all of the high-grade breast cancers showed Her-2/neu positive status.
Department of Pathology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. marafah@hotmail.com
Maha
M
Arafah
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human