title: Comparison of ER/PR and HER2 statuses in primary and paired liver metastatic sites of breast carcinoma in patients with or without treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) statuses between primary tumors and paired liver metastatic localizations of breast carcinoma were modified by treatment or during the natural metastatic process.
  
  
  METHODS
  ER, PR, and HER2 expressions were analyzed on paired tissue specimens taken from the primary and the liver metastatic tumors in breast cancer patients. The first group included 46 women who presented with T1-T4, N0-N3, M0 breast carcinoma when first diagnosed and were treated by neoadjuvant therapy or directly underwent surgery, then received postoperative treatment and developed liver metastasis several months/years later. The second group included 12 patients with liver metastatic breast carcinoma when first diagnosed for breast cancer. HER2 status was determined by immunohistochemistry as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 46 patients in the first group, the ER/PR and HER2 statuses (when considered as a whole histological subtype) were changed between primary tumor and liver metastatic lesions in 12 patients (26.1%). While ER and PR status were modified in 14 (30.4%) and 25 (54.3%) patients, respectively, there were only 5 (10.9%) cases showed a discrepancy in the HER2 status. In the second group, the ER/PR and HER2 statuses (when considered as a whole subtype) were consistent between primary and liver metastatic tumor in 10 of 12 (83.3%) patients. ER, PR, and HER2 statuses were modified in 0 of 12 (0%), 4 of 12 (33.3%), and 1 of 12 (8.3%) cases, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ER/PR and HER2 statuses between primary and liver metastatic lesions of breast carcinoma can be modified after treatment but are stable in most cases during the natural metastatic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jieqiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Heran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Weijuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yunjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Nanyan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Shunrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jiannan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Erwei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Fengxi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human