Evaluation of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, and c-erbB-2 in carcinoma of the breast in Trinidadian women

West Indian Med J. 2002 Mar;51(1):4-9.

Abstract

One hundred and three consecutive cases of breast cancer in Trinidadian women were evaluated for steroid receptor status and c-erbB-2 receptor along with conventional parameters including age, ethnicity, tumour size, histological type and grade, and lymph node status: The molecular markers were studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin sections. Tumour size > 2 cm was seen in 60% of the cases. Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and c-erbB-2 showed 54%, 46% and 63% positivity, respectively. There was no correlation between c-erbB-2 and steroid receptors. Forty-one per cent of cases showed double negativity for steroid receptors (ER-/PR-). No correlation was found between the markers and conventional parameters except for a negative correlation with the tumour grade. The high percentage of c-erbB-2 positivity and the high proportion of steroid receptor negativity suggest a need for studies on adjuvant therapy. Integration of selected markers with conventional parameters could help define subgroups for treatment and prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / chemistry
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / chemistry*
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / analysis*
  • Trinidad and Tobago / epidemiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Receptor, ErbB-2