Association of HER-2/neu overexpression with the number of involved axillary lymph nodes in hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients

Fusun T., Semsi A., Cem U., Mevlut T., Zafer K., Kazim U., ...More

EXPERIMENTAL ONCOLOGY, vol.27, no.2, pp.145-149, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 27 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Journal Name: EXPERIMENTAL ONCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.145-149
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic significance of HER-2/neu overexpression in hormone receptor and axillary lymph node positive breast cancer patients treated in a single institution. Methods: Paraffin-embedded primary breast cancers from 40 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma were studied immunohistochemically. HER-2/neu staining was classified as negative (0, 1+), weak/moderate positive (2+), or moderate/strong positive (3+) and was assessed for effectiveness as a predictor of outcome in univariate and Cox model multivariate analyses. Results: 20% of patients were positive for HER-2/neu. Significant associations were observed between HER-2/neu and increasing number of involved nodes (p = 0.014), p53 positivity (p = 0.039), the presence of vascular invasion (p = 0.029) and metastases (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that HER-2/neu overexpression (p = 0.016) and age (p = 0.005) were independent predictors for disease-free survival (DFS) where the number of involved nodes (p = 0.032) was shown to be independent predictor for overall survival. In the HER-2/neu positively stained tumors, significant number of patients developed distant metastases than the patients with HER-2/neu negatively stained tumors (87.5% vs 34.4%, p = 0.01). Conclusion: For node positive patients, HER-2/neu overexpression was a significant predictor of DFS.