Study of HER2, ER and PR markers and survival in invasive ductal carcinoma patients in south-east Romania

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the status of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), the oestrogen receptor (ER) and the progesterone receptor (PR) in the south-eastern region of Romania, in the population that was of a reproductive age at the time of the Chernobyl disaster. Two hundred and fifteen female patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in the period January 2007–December 2012 were included in a retrospective follow-up study until December 2014. The urban/rural area ratio was 1.8:1. The results showed that most of the female patients had ER+/PR+, HER2+ (45.58%), the least aggressive of all the combinations studied (a two-year survival rate of 63.27%). The ER−/PR−, HER2– combination – the most aggressive one – was identified in the group with the lowest age average at the time of diagnosis (56.22 years). Of these cases, 10% presented relapses and the two-year survival rate was as low as 25%. The most frequent metastases at the time of diagnosis were seen in the ER–/PR−, HER2+ group (73.68%), followed by the ER−/PR−, HER2– group (70%). There was a low-to-medium correlation between the tumour marker combinations and the presence of metastases at the time of diagnosis and the two-year survival rate (p < 0.001). The obtained results about the specific association between the studied markers and the response to and outcome from treatment could be useful in determining the therapeutic conduct and prognosis in invasive ductal carcinoma patients from south-east Romania.