Significance of ERβ expression in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study is to investigate the estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expression in molecular subtypes of breast cancer and clinic significance of ERβ expression.


METHODS
The ERβ expression was detected in 730 cases of breast cancer tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry. Twenty-one patients were censored during 2-10 years follow-up. The difference in ERβ expression was analyzed by Pearson Chi-square Test. Its correlation with estrogen receptor α (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation. The accumulative tumor-free survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and difference in survival rate was analyzed by Log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multi-factor analysis.


RESULTS
The ERβ expression was significantly different among the molecular subtypes of breast cancer (P < 0.05). The ERβ expression in breast cancer was positively correlated with Her-2 (P < 0.05) while it had no correlation with ERα and Her-2. The expression of ERα was negatively correlated with Her-2 (P < 0.01) whereas positively correlated with PR (P < 0.01). The expression of PR was negatively correlated with Her-2 (P < 0.05). The tumor-free survival rate in patients with positive ERβ expression was significantly lower than that in patients with negative ERβ expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive ERβ expression is a poor prognostic factor of breast cancer.
The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1084557586106833.
Department of Breast, Digestive & Vascular Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, No, 137, South Liyushan Road, Xinjiang 830054, P, R, China. gejsy318@126.com.
Liying
L
Guo
Jie
J
Meng
Dilimina
D
Yilamu
Adina
A
Jakulin
Minggang
M
Fu
Bowei
B
Wang
Gulinaer
G
Abulajiang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human