title: Cancer biomarker HER-2/neu in breast cancer in Indian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Indian women with breast cancer, the HER-2/neu gene is amplified in 30% of cases. Elevated serum HER-2/neu levels have been shown to be associated with a poor clinical prognosis and decreased survival in early stage breast cancer patients, and testing for this may help to manage the disease. The present study was therefore to estimate serum HER-2/neu levels in breast cancer patients and associate these with other prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum HER-2/neu levels were studied in 207 patients with breast cancer, 15 with benign breast diseases, (BBD) and 175 age-matched healthy controls. Patients' age, menopausal status, node, and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) status were compared with serum HER-2/neu levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum HER-2/neu overexpression was associated with age, disease stage and positive nodal status but not with menopausal status. Serum HER-2/neu levels were negatively correlated with hormone receptor positivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HER-2/neu serum tests should be done more frequently in Indian women with breast cancer, irrespective of their ER and PgR hormone receptor status. ELISA is a reliable and economical tool to assess the HER-2/neu status in tumors, when breast tissue samples are not available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Grant Medical College and Sir J J Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singhai
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Government Medical College, Miraj, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Amit V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Grant Medical College and Sir J J Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Vinayak W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Patil
keywords: ER; PgR; breast cancer; hormone receptor; serum HER-2/neu receptor assay