Immunohistochemistry in breast carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Breast Carcinoma has emerged as most common type of malignant tumor in women surpassing cervical carcinoma which was commonest few decades ago. Hence a proper diagnostic protocol is very much necessary for diagnostic, management and prognostic purposes. Immunohistochemistry has helped to some extent in this aspect. Materials and Methods: Both H&E stained sections and IHC sections for ER, PR and Her2 were studied. The Hormone receptor status was correlated with age, grade and type of tumor. Results: Total cases analyzed in the present study were 50. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was 45/50(90%) and others were 5/50(10%). IDC was the most common one and triple negative tumors being 34.83% Hormone receptor status was more in younger patients than older ones. And there was positive association with smaller size of the tumors. Their expression was higher in grade I tumors at 85% than in grade III tumors at 10%. The smaller tumors less than 2cm showed triple positively more frequently than larger tumors more than 2cm. Conclusion: In the present study the breast carcinoma in younger patients having smaller size of tumor was frequently positive for ER, PR and negative for Her2/neu than older patients with larger size of the tumor. Immunohistochemical study of breast carcinoma must be routine so as to help the clinician for better management of patients. Keywords: Breast carcinoma, Infiltrating duct carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR), Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2.