Two histopathologically different diseases: hormone receptor-positive and hormone receptor-negative tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014 Jun;145(3):615-23. doi: 10.1007/s10549-014-2983-x. Epub 2014 May 13.

Abstract

The clinical behavior of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, including pathologic complete response rate and pattern of relapse and metastasis, differs substantially according to hormone receptor (HR) status. We investigated various histopathologic features of HER2-positive breast cancer and their correlation with HR status. We retrospectively analyzed tumors of 450 HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and 1 year of trastuzumab. HR-/HER2+ tumors showed higher nuclear grade, less tubule formation, higher histologic grade, frequent apocrine features, diffuse and abundant lymphocytic infiltration, strong HER2 immunohistochemical staining (3+), higher average HER2 copy number and HER2/CEP17 ratio, the absence of HER2 genetic heterogeneity, and greater p53 expression than HR+/HER2+ tumors. An inverse correlation was observed between estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor Allred score and average HER2 copy number or HER2/CEP17 ratio. The percentage of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) within the tumor was negatively correlated with ER Allred score, but positively correlated with average HER2 copy number and HER2/CEP17 ratio. Pathologic tumor size and DCIS percentage also showed a significant inverse correlation. Ratio of metastatic to total examined lymph node number was significantly correlated with average HER2 copy number and HER2/CEP17 ratio. High pT stage (hazard ratio, 2.370; p = 0.027), the presence of lymphovascular invasion (hazard ratio, 2.806; p = 0.005), and HR negativity (hazard ratio, 2.202; 1.074-4.513; p = 0.031) were found to be independent prognostic indicators of poor disease-free survival. In conclusion, HR+/HER2+ and HR-/HER2+ breast cancer showed distinct histopathologic features that may be relevant to their distinct clinical behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trastuzumab
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / biosynthesis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab