Oestrogen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor and oncoprotein expression in non-involved tissue of cancerous breasts

Abstract

Oestrogen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, c- fos and c- myc protein expression were determined in 58 carcinomas and associated non-involved tissue and 21 normal/benign breast tissue control samples using histochemistry. Patient age had a striking effect on detection of oestrogen receptor in both normal/benign and non-involved tissues from cancerous breasts. There was no association between the extent of reactivity in non-involved tissue and that of the associated carcinoma. Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor in non-involved areas of cancerous breasts differed from normal/benign controls in a proportion of cases, either showing less reactivity or focal strong reactivity, although there was no direct correlation with epidermal growth factor receptor status of the corresponding tumour. There was no significant difference in detection of c- fos and c- myc protein in normal/benign and the non-involved tissues. Although no consistent change has been found in non-involved tissue of cancerous breasts, the alterations in epidermal growth factor receptor merit further study to assess whether they represent primary changes within cancerous breasts or are secondary to the effects of the associated cancer.