title: Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-3 mRNA Expression as a Prognostic Marker for Invasive Duct Carcinoma not Otherwise Specified.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the Erythroblastosis Oncogene B(ErbB) receptor family holds crucial role in its pathogenesis. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 3 (HER-3)gene over expression in breast tissue has been associated with aggressive clinical behaviour and bad prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluateHER-3mRNA expression level as a prognostic marker for breast cancer and to correlate its level with other established prognostic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on specimens of 100 cases that were divided into 40 patients presented with fibroadenoma and 60 patients presented with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) not otherwise specified and underwent modified radical mastectomy. All specimens were investigated forHER-2/neu, ER and PR expression by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative assay ofHER-3mRNA expression using real time PCR technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant highHER3mRNA level in carcinoma cases compared to fibroadenoma. In malignant cases,HER3mRNA level was significantly associated with advanced T stage, advanced N stage, number of positive lymph nodes, large tumour size and cases associated with an adjacent in situ component. Moreover,HER-3mRNA level was of highest values in Her-2/neu positive group followed by triple negative cases with the lowest level in luminal group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HER-3gene is upregulated in IDC especially those carrying poor prognostic features.HER-3mRNA level may identify a subset of patients with a poor prognosis, and who could undergo further evaluation for the efficacy ofHER3targeted anticancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Menoufia University , Shebein Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt .
authors.forename: Ghada Ezat
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hammoda
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Menoufia University , Shebein Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt .
authors.forename: Sally Mohammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: El-Hefnawy
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pathology, Menoufia University , Shebein Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt .
authors.forename: Asmaa Gaber
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Abdou
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Pathology, Menoufia University , Shebein Elkom, Menoufia, Egypt .
authors.forename: Rania Abdallah
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Abdallah
keywords: Breast cancer; Molecular subtypes; Radical mastectomy