Abstract A2: Receptor status in breast cancer and reproductive history: Is there any relation?

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Molecular profiling studies using immunohistochemistry have identified subtypes of breast cancer that can be approximately classified by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER-2/neu (HER-2) expression. These molecular subtypes and their combinations taken together with reproductive history of woman may help prognostication of breast cancer cases. We report a series of 102 cases of breast cancer treated in our institution over last five years (2004-08). Methods: Paraffin-embedded primary breast cancers from 102 patients with invasive and ductal carcinoma were studied immunohistochemically. Markers along with reproductive history were analysed. Result: 78 ductal 12 lobular cases were found. 43 cases were postmenopausal. Hormone receptor positive cases were 63 (61.7%), ER+ 34 (33.3%), and PR+ 29 (28.4%). HER-2/neu + cases were 34 (33.3%). There were 11 cases of triple negative (basal-like) breast cancer. Significant inverse correlation was found between HER-2/neu and hormone receptor. Early age at menarche was only found to be associated with risk of HER-2neu+, whereas breastfeeding had protective effect. Both late ages at menopause, hormone therapy was associated with poor prognosis. Higher age at first child birth was significantly associated with poorer outcome and no difference in risks with parity was noticed. HER-2/neu was not associated with response rate but their prognosis was worse. Triple negative had 3 survivors at three years. Significant associations were observed between HER-2/neu and increasing number of involved and metastases (p = 0.01). Analysis demonstrated that HER-2/neu overexpression (p = 0.02) and age (p = 0.01) were independent predictors for disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusion: Hormone receptor positive cases are associated with better prognosis than HER-2/neu positive cases. For node positive patients, HER-2/neu overexpression was a significant predictor of DFS. Reproductive history had significant bearing in prognosis and receptor expressing subsets of breast cancer which may be clear by further study. Citation Information: Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(14 Suppl):A2.