Association between GSTP1 Genotypes and Hormone Receptor Phenotype in Invasive Ductal Carcinomas of Breast

Eighty six cases of invasive ductal breast carcinomas were utilized to investigate GSTP1 polymorphisms incertain immunohistochemistry (IHC) subtypes of breast cancer with respect to ER, PR and HER2 expression.The frequency of wild allele homozygote, heterozygote and variant allele homozygote genotypes were 46.5%,52.3% and 1.16% respectively; Whereas 54.3% of the control subjects were GSTP1 wild type allele homozygous,40.0% were heterozygous and 5.71% mutant allele homozygous. There was dramatic inverted relation betweenpositive IHC ER staining and increasing grade of tumors in general (100%, 88.6%, 40.4%) and especially amongtumors with heterozygote genotype of GSTP1 (70%, 35.4%, 22.7). There was increase in positive IHC HER2staining consistent with higher grades in general (20%, 29.6%, 50.0%), especially among tumors with GSTP1wild allele homozygote genotype (5.0%, 9.1%, 31.8%). A remarkable reverse relation was also observed betweenthe fraction of IHC hormone receptor phenotype ER+/PR+/ HER2- and increased grade of tumors (60.0%,45.5%, and 27.3%) especially among tumors with GSTP1 heterozygote genotype, and a similar link was notedregarding ER+/PR-/ HER2- and tumor grade. There was increase in frequency of ER-/PR-/ HER2- (0.0%, 6.8%,and 18.2%) and ER-/PR-/ HER2+ (0.0%, 4.54%, and 40.9%) consistent with the higher grades of tumors ingeneral and especially GSTP1 heterozygote genotype tumors. As a conclusion, there is no correlation betweenGSTP1 polymorphism and increased risk of breast cancer i.e. the mutant allele is randomly distributed in cancerand control cases. However, there is a link between GSTP1 genotypes and hormone receptor expression statusand certain phenotypes of breast cancer, which may have clinical importance.     

Estrogen receptor negative/progesterone receptor positive breast cancer is not a reproducible subtype

Introduction

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) testing are performed in the evaluation of breast cancer. While the clinical utility of ER as a predictive biomarker to identify patients likely to benefit from hormonal therapy is well-established, the added value of PR is less well-defined. The primary goals of our study were to assess the distribution, inter-assay reproducibility, and prognostic significance of breast cancer subtypes defined by patterns of ER and PR expression.

Methods

We integrated gene expression microarray (GEM) and clinico-pathologic data from 20 published studies to determine the frequency (n = 4,111) and inter-assay reproducibility (n = 1,752) of ER/PR subtypes (ER+/PR+, ER+/PR-, ER-/PR-, ER-/PR+). To extend our findings, we utilized a cohort of patients from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) with ER/PR data recorded in the medical record and assessed on tissue microarrays (n = 2,011). In both datasets, we assessed the association of ER and PR expression with survival.

Results

In a genome-wide analysis, progesterone receptor was among the least variable genes in ER- breast cancer. The ER-/PR+ subtype was rare (approximately 1 to 4%) and showed no significant reproducibility (Kappa = 0.02 and 0.06, in the GEM and NHS datasets, respectively). The vast majority of patients classified as ER-/PR+ in the medical record (97% and 94%, in the GEM and NHS datasets) were re-classified by a second method. In the GEM dataset (n = 2,731), progesterone receptor mRNA expression was associated with prognosis in ER+ breast cancer (adjusted P <0.001), but not in ER- breast cancer (adjusted P = 0.21). PR protein expression did not contribute significant prognostic information to multivariate models considering ER and other standard clinico-pathologic features in the GEM or NHS datasets.

Conclusion

ER-/PR+ breast cancer is not a reproducible subtype. PR expression is not associated with prognosis in ER- breast cancer, and PR does not contribute significant independent prognostic information to multivariate models considering ER and other standard clinico-pathologic factors. Given that PR provides no clinically actionable information in ER+ breast cancer, these findings question the utility of routine PR testing in breast cancer.     

Breast cancer subtypes and survival in patients with brain metastases

Introduction

Brain metastases (BM) occur in up to one third of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), whose incidences and prognoses by breast cancer subtypes in BM have not been well delineated.

Methods

Retrospective survival analyses were performed in 126 BM patients from 805 MBC patients treated at the National Cancer Center between August 2001 and April 2006, according to clinical characteristics, breast cancer subtypes, and receipt of trastuzumab. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth receptor-2 (HER2) statuses were tested by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and HER2 FISH analysis conducted for IHC 2+.

Results

The proportion of HER2+/ER- (29% vs 16%) and triple-negative (37% vs 25%) tumors was higher in the 126 BM patients than those without BM. While median survival after recurrence was longer in patients with luminal A disease (median survival of luminal A vs luminal B vs HER2+/ER- vs triple-negative: p = 0.0246; 39.6 vs 27.4 vs 20.9 vs 15.5 months), survival was shorter from BM to death in luminal A and triple negatives (median survival: p = 0.0113; 4.0 vs 9.2 vs 5.0 vs 3.4 months). Receipt of trastuzumab after BM was a significant variable for survival in HER2+ patients. Multivariate analyses identified ER-negative, HER2-negative, or triple-negative, as well as older age, presence of leptomeningeal disease, and three or more extracranial disease sites, as poor prognostic factors for survival after BM.

Conclusion

MBC patients who developed BM had higher proportions of triple-negative and HER2+/ER- tumor status. Triple receptor status is a useful prognostic marker for predicting survival after BM in metastatic breast cancer patients.     

Molecular subtypes of breast cancers detected in mammography screening and outside of screening

PURPOSE: The frequency and significance of gene expression profile-derived molecular subtypes of breast cancers found in mammography screening are unknown. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We identified breast cancers diagnosed in women of any age living in defined geographic regions in Finland in 1991 to 1992 and collected clinical and pathologic data. Surrogates for the molecular subtypes were determined for 247 cancers found in organized mammography screening and 989 cancers detected outside of screening using immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. Molecular subtypes were defined as luminal A [estrogen receptor (ER) positive and/or progesterone receptor (PR) positive, HER2-], luminal B (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2+), basal-like (ER-, PR-, HER2-, cytokeratin 5+, and/or HER1+), HER2+/ER- (ER-, PR-, and HER2+), and unclassified. The median follow-up time was 9.4 years. RESULTS: The luminal type A was common (73.7%) and the HER2+/ER- type is rare (5.7%) in screen-detected cancer, and only 16% were HER2 positive. Women with cancer diagnosed in screening at ages 50 to 69 years had similar molecular subtype distribution as women whose cancer was found outside of screening at age >69 years. In a multivariate model, cancer detection at screening independently predicted favorable distant disease-free survival when the molecular subtype was included as a covariate in addition to age, histologic grade, and cancer size. Women with small (pT(1)N(0)M(0)) HER2-positive cancer had similar outcome regardless of the method of detection. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular subtype distribution of screen-detected breast cancer differs from that of cancers found outside of screening and accounts in part for the better outcome of screen-detected cancer.     

Association of Poor Prognosis Subtypes of Breast Cancer with Estrogen Receptor Alpha Methylation in Iranian Women

Breast cancer is a prevalent heterogeneous malignant disease. Gene expression profiling by DNA microarraycan classify breast tumors into five different molecular subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, HER-2, basal and normallikewhich have differing prognosis. Recently it has been shown that immunohistochemistry (IHC) markersincluding estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(Her2), can divide tumors to main subtypes: luminal A (ER+; PR+/-; HER-2-), luminal B (ER+;PR+/-; HER-2+),basal-like (ER-;PR-;HER2-) and Her2+ (ER-; PR-; HER-2+). Some subtypes such as basal-like subtype have beencharacterized by poor prognosis and reduced overall survival. Due to the importance of the ER signaling pathwayin mammary cell proliferation; it appears that epigenetic changes in the ERα gene as a central component of thispathway, may contribute to prognostic prediction. Thus this study aimed to clarify the correlation of differentIHC-based subtypes of breast tumors with ERα methylation in Iranian breast cancer patients. For this purposeone hundred fresh breast tumors obtained by surgical resection underwent DNA extraction for assessedment oftheir ER methylation status by methylation specific PCR (MSP). These tumors were classified into main subtypesaccording to IHC markers and data were collected on pathological features of the patients. ERα methylation wasfound in 25 of 28 (89.3%) basal tumors, 21 of 24 (87.5%) Her2+ tumors, 18 of 34 (52.9%) luminal A tumors and7 of 14 (50%) luminal B tumors. A strong correlation was found between ERα methylation and poor prognosistumor subtypes (basal and Her2+) in patients (P<0.001). Our findings show that ERα methylation is correlatedwith poor prognosis subtypes of breast tumors in Iranian patients and may play an important role in pathogenesisof the more aggressive breast tumors.     

Association between mammographic density and basal-like and luminal A breast cancer subtypes

Introduction

Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer overall, but few studies have examined the association between mammographic density and specific subtypes of breast cancer, especially aggressive basal-like breast cancers. Because basal-like breast cancers are less frequently screen-detected, it is important to understand how mammographic density relates to risk of basal-like breast cancer.

Methods

We estimated associations between mammographic density and breast cancer risk according to breast cancer subtype. Cases and controls were participants in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) who also had mammograms recorded in the Carolina Mammography Registry (CMR). A total of 491 cases had mammograms within five years prior to and one year after diagnosis and 528 controls had screening or diagnostic mammograms close to the dates of selection into CBCS. Mammographic density was reported to the CMR using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System categories. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (HER1 and HER2), and cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) were assessed by immunohistochemistry and dichotomized as positive or negative, with ER+ and/or PR+, and HER2- tumors classified as luminal A and ER-, PR-, HER2-, HER1+ and/or CK5/6+ tumors classified as basal-like breast cancer. Triple negative tumors were defined as negative for ER, PR and HER2. Of the 491 cases 175 were missing information on subtypes; the remaining cases included 181 luminal A, 17 luminal B, 48 basal-like, 29 ER-/PR-/HER2+, and 41 unclassified subtypes. Odds ratios comparing each subtype to all controls and case-case odds ratios comparing mammographic density distributions in basal-like to luminal A breast cancers were estimated using logistic regression.

Results

Mammographic density was associated with increased risk of both luminal A and basal-like breast cancers, although estimates were imprecise. The magnitude of the odds ratio associated with mammographic density was not substantially different between basal-like and luminal A cancers in case–control analyses and case-case analyses (case-case OR = 1.08 (95% confidence interval: 0.30, 3.84)).

Conclusions

These results suggest that risk estimates associated with mammographic density are not distinct for separate breast cancer subtypes (basal-like/triple negative vs. luminal A breast cancers). Studies with a larger number of basal-like breast cancers are needed to confirm our findings.     

Local-regional control according to surrogate markers of breast cancer subtypes and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients undergoing breast conserving therapy

Introduction

Breast cancers of different molecular subtypes have different survival rates. The goal of this study was to identify patients at high risk for local-regional recurrence according to response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surrogate markers of molecular subtypes in patients undergoing breast conserving therapy (BCT).

Methods

Clinicopathologic data from 595 breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and BCT from 1997 to 2005 were identified. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression determined by immunohistochemistry were used to construct the following subtypes: ER+ or PR+ and HER2- (hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2-; 52%), ER+ or PR+ and HER2+ (HR+/HER2+; 9%), ER- and PR- and HER2+ (HR-/HER2+; 7%) and ER- and PR- and HER2- (HR-/HER2-; 32%). Actuarial rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used for multivariate analysis (MVA).

Results

After a median follow-up of 64 months, the five-year local-regional recurrence (LRR)-free survival rate for all patients was 93.8%. The five-year LRR-free survival rates varied by subtype: HR+/HER2- 97.0%, HR+/HER2+ 95.9%, HR-/HER2+ 86.5% and HR-/HER2- 89.5% (P = 0.001). In addition to subtype, clinical stage III disease (90% vs. 95% for I/II, P = 0.05), high nuclear grade (92% vs. 97% with low/intermediate grade, P = 0.03), presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (89% vs. 95% in those without LVI, P = 0.02) and four or more positive lymph nodes on pathologic examination (87% vs. 95% with zero to three positive lymph nodes, P = 0.03) were associated with lower five-year LRR-free survival on univariate analysis. On MVA, HR-/HER2+ and HR-/HER2- subtypes and disease in four or more lymph nodes were associated with decreased LRR-free survival. A pathologic complete response (pCR) was associated with improved LRR-free survival.

Conclusions

Patients with HR+/HER2- and HR+/HER2+ subtypes had excellent LRR-free survival regardless of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with HR-/HER2+ and HR-/HER2- subtypes with poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy had worse LRR-free survival after BCT. Additional study is needed to determine the impact of trastuzumab on local-regional control in HER2+ tumors. Our data suggest that patients with HR-/HER2- subtype tumors not achieving pCR may benefit from novel strategies to improve local-regional control.     

Prognostic value of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor conversion in distant breast cancer metastases

BACKGROUND:

Changes in the receptor profile of primary breast cancers to their metastases (receptor conversion) have been described for the estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of receptor conversion for ERα and PR on survival in a large group of distant non‐bone breast cancer metastases.

METHODS:

Receptor conversion was studied by immunohistochemistry in a group of 233 metastatic breast cancer patients. Kaplan‐Meier overall survival curves were plotted, and differences between the curves were analyzed by log‐rank analysis. The additional prognostic value of conversion to established prognosticators was studied by Cox regression.

RESULTS:

Overall survival of patients showing conversion from positive to negative ERα or PR, or from negative to positive ERα or PR, or remaining receptor negative was comparable, and significantly worse than patients remaining receptor positive. ERα or PR receptor conversion from positive in the primary breast tumor to negative in distant metastases has independent negative prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS:

ERα or PR receptor conversion from positive in the primary breast cancer to negative in distant metastases has negative prognostic value. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Implications of constructed biologic subtype and its relationship to locoregional recurrence following mastectomy

Introduction

We examined the prognostic value of biologic subtype on locoregional recurrence (LRR) after mastectomy in a cohort of low risk women who did not receive adjuvant radiation therapy.

Methods

A total of 819 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent mastectomy from January 2000 through December 2005. No patient received preoperative chemotherapy. Estrogen receptor (ER) receptor, progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were used to construct the following 4 subtypes: i) ER+ or PR+ and HER2- (HR+/HER2-), ii) ER+ or PR+ and HER2+ (HR+/HER2+), iii) ER- and PR- and HER2+ (HR-/HER2+)and iv) ER- and PR- and HER2- (HR-/HER2-). LRR-free survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between time-to-event outcomes and patient prognostic factors.

Results

At a median follow-up of 58 months, five-year cumulative incidence of LRR for the entire cohort was 2.5%. Subtype specific LRR rates were 1% for HR+/HER2-, 6.5% in HR+/HER2+, 2% for HR-/HER2+ and 10.9% for HR-/HER2- (P < 0.01). In HER-2+ patients (irrespective of ER/PR status), trastuzumab therapy was not associated with LRR-free survival. On multivariate analysis, one to three positive lymph nodes (HR 4.75 (confidence interval (CI) 1.75 to 12.88, P < 0.01), ?? 4 positive lymph nodes (HR23.4 (CI 4.64 to 117.94, P < 0.01), HR+/HER2+ (HR 4.26 (CI 1.05 to 17.33), P = 0.04), and HR-/HER2- phenotype (HR 13.87 (CI 4.96 to 38.80), P < 0.01) were associated with shorter LRR-free survival whereas age > 50 at diagnosis (HR 0.31 (CI 0.12 to 0.80), P = 0.02) was associated with improved LRR-free survival. Among the HR-/HER2- subtypes, five-year LRR incidence was 23.4% in patients with positive lymph nodes compared to 7.8% for lymph node negative patients (P = 0.01), although this association did not reach significance when the analysis was limited to HR-/HER2- women with only one to three positive lymph nodes (15.6% versus 7.8%, P = 0.11).

Conclusions

Constructed subtype is a prognostic factor for LRR after mastectomy among low risk women not receiving adjuvant radiation therapy, although rates of LRR remain low across subtypes. Patients with node positive, HR-/HER2- type tumors were more likely to experience LRR following mastectomy alone. Prospective studies to further investigate the potential benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy in these women are warranted.     

The estrogen receptor negative-progesterone receptor positive breast carcinoma is a biological entity and not a technical artifact

The ER-/PR+ breast tumor may be the result of a false ER negative result. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in patient and tumor characteristics of the ER-/PR+ phenotype in an Asian setting. A total of 2629 breast cancer patients were categorized on the basis of their age, ethnicity, tumor hormonal receptor phenotype, grade and histological type. There were 1230 (46.8%) ER+/PR+, 306 (11.6%) ER+/PR-, 122 (4.6%) ER-/PR+ and 972 (37%) ER-/PR-. ER-/PR+ tumors were 2.5 times more likely to be younger than 50 years at diagnosis (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.72-3.67). Compared to ER+/PR+ tumors, the ER-/ PR+ phenotype was twice more likely to be associated with grade 3 tumors (OR:2.02; 95%CI: 1.00-4.10). In contrast, compared to ER-/PR- tumors, the ER-/PR+ phenotype was 90% less likely to be associated with a grade 3 tumor (OR: 0.12; 95%CI:0.05-0.26), and more likely to have invasive lobular than invasive ductal histology (OR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.47-9.11). These results show that the ER-/PR+ phenotype occurs in a younger age group and is associated with intermediate histopathological characteristics compared to ER+/PR+ and ER-/PR- tumors. This may imply that it is a distinct entity and not a technical artifact.     

Survival Benefit of Tamoxifen in Estrogen Receptor-Negative and Progesterone Receptor-Positive Low Grade Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and prognostic significance of adjuvant tamoxifen in breast cancer patients with various hormone receptor statuses.

Methods

Typically, 1,260 female breast cancer patients were recruited in this study. The correlation between estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) phenotypes and clinical characteristics was investigated, and the survival rate was assessed after 5-year follow-up.

Results

The 5-year overall survival (85%) was better in women under the age of 50 years. Patients with ER+/PR+ tumors had a better 5-year survival rate (94%); those with ER-/PR- tumors experienced the worst outcome (74% survival rate); whereas single-positive cases were in between. In 97 out of 128 patients with ER-/PR+ tumors, tamoxifen was given as adjuvant hormonal therapy, and it increased the survival benefit in the lower grade group in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively).

Conclusion

For high-grade tumors with ER-/PR+, adjuvant tamoxifen therapy may have no survival benefit, whereas for the patients with low-grade ER-/PR+ tumors, adjuvant tamoxifen therapy is highly suggestive.     

Immunohistochemistry Subtypes (ER/PR/HER) of Breast Cancer: Where Do We Stand in the West of Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, cancer of breast is ranked the most frequent neoplasm and second source of cancer deathin the female population. Breast cancer (BC) fast diagnosis, prognosis and medication management necessitate,these days, immunohistochemistry (IHC) assessment of hormone receptors and HER2 expression profile. Thepresent report defines the IHC profile of ER, PR and HER2 in Saudi female breast neoplasms of ductal andlobular types and associations ER, PR and HER2 expression patterns with various clinicopathological factors(age, type of tumor, size, laterality, histological grade, and involvement of axillaries lymph nodes). Ninety ninecases of breast tumors were recruited from the pathology department archive of King Abdulaziz UniversityHospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ER, PR and HER2 expression was assessed using IHC staining. Ductalcarcinomas with a variety of histological grades constituted 88 (88.8%) of total cases. Seventy four (77.8%), 59(62.1%), and 35 (36.8%) of ductal carcinomas showed positive staining for ER, PR and HER2, in that order.Remaining breast cancer cases were four (4%) lobular carcinomas and two (2%) mixed form of ductal andlobular types, which were ER+, PR+, and HER2-. Breast cancer expression pattern of ER, PR and HER2 inSaudi female is different from that of Tunisian and Jordanian female populations and closer to the expressionpattern of Egyptian, Lebanese, Iraqi and western country females. Furthermore, the present study found twoIHC patterns of breast cancer ER+/PR-/HER2+ (5%) and ER+/PR-/HER2- (11.1%), which had not been reportedin other Arabic studies. Thus the rates of IHC expression patterns in breast cancer show some variation amongArabic female populations.     

Reproductive history and risk of three breast cancer subtypes defined by three biomarkers

Breast cancer subtypes defined by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression are biologically distinct and thus, may have distinct etiologies. In particular, it is plausible that risk factors operating through hormonal mechanisms are differentially related to risk of such tumor subtypes. Using data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, we explored associations between reproductive history and three breast cancer subtypes. Data on parity and age at first birth were collected from 743,623 women, 10,896 of whom were subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer. Cases were classified into three subtypes based on tumor maker expression: (1) ER positive (ER+, N = 8,203), (2) ER negative/PR negative/HER2 positive (ER−/PR−/HER2+, N = 288), or (3) ER-, PR-, and HER2-negative (triple-negative, N = 645). Associations with reproductive history, evaluated using Cox regression, differed significantly across tumor subtypes. Nulliparity was most strongly associated with risk of ER+ breast cancer [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23–1.39]; late age at first birth was most strongly associated with risk of ER-/PR-/HER2+ disease (HR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.31–2.56). Neither parity nor age at first birth was associated with triple-negative breast cancer. In contrast to ER+ and ER−/PR−/HER2+ subtypes, reproductive history does not appear to be a risk factor for triple-negative breast cancer.     

Pattern of recurrence of early breast cancer is different according to intrinsic subtype and proliferation index

Introduction

Recurrence risk in breast cancer varies throughout the follow-up time. We examined if these changes are related to the level of expression of the proliferation pathway and intrinsic subtypes.

Methods

Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptor, Ki-67, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and cytokeratin 5/6 (CK 5/6) was performed on tissue-microarrays constructed from a large and uniformly managed series of early breast cancer patients (N = 1,249). Subtype definitions by four biomarkers were as follows: luminal A (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-, Ki-67 <14), luminal B (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-, Ki-67 ≥14), HER2-enriched (any ER, any PR, HER2+, any Ki-67), triple-negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-, any Ki-67). Subtype definitions by six biomarkers were as follows: luminal A (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-, Ki-67 <14, any CK 5/6, any EGFR), luminal B (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-, Ki-67 ≥14, any CK 5/6, any EGFR), HER2-enriched (ER-, PR-, HER2+, any Ki-67, any CK 5/6, any EGFR), Luminal-HER2 (ER + and/or PR+, HER2+, any Ki-67, any CK 5/6, any EGFR), Basal-like (ER-, PR-, HER2-, any Ki-67, CK5/6+ and/or EGFR+), triple-negative nonbasal (ER-, PR-, HER2-, any Ki-67, CK 5/6-, EGFR-). Each four- or six-marker defined intrinsic subtype was divided in two groups, with Ki-67 <14% or with Ki-67 ≥14%. Recurrence hazard rate function was determined for each intrinsic subtype as a whole and according to Ki-67 value.

Results

Luminal A displayed a slow risk increase, reaching its maximum after three years and then remained steady. Luminal B presented most of its relapses during the first five years. HER2-enriched tumors show a peak of recurrence nearly twenty months post-surgery, with a greater risk in Ki-67 ≥14%. However a second peak occurred at 72 months but the risk magnitude was greater in Ki-67 <14%. Triple negative tumors with low proliferation rate display a smooth risk curve, but with Ki-67 ≥14% show sharp peak at nearly 18 months.

Conclusions

Each intrinsic subtype has a particular pattern of relapses over time which change depending on the level of activation of the proliferation pathway assessed by Ki-67. These findings could have clinical implications both on adjuvant treatment trial design and on the recommendations concerning the surveillance of patients.     

Characterizing Clinicopathologic Features of Estrogen Receptor-Positive/Progesterone Receptor-Negative Breast Cancers

BackgroundWhile most estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers express progesterone receptor (PR), a small subset of tumors exhibits an ER+/PR- phenotype despite the fact that PR is an ER-dependent gene product. Previous studies have shown that these tumors are generally associated with a worse clinical outcome when compared to the ER+/PR+ breast cancers, indicating that they are clinically and probably genetically different entities.MethodsWe characterized the clinicopathologic features of ER+/PR- tumors from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and the authors’ institutional cohort.ResultsER+/PR- tumors, constituting 12% of all breast cancers in both cohorts, less frequently occurred in Caucasians, were more likely to be of a higher histologic grade and presented with a higher stage when compared to ER+/PR+ tumors. Conversely, ER+/PR- neoplasms were more frequently seen in Caucasians, less likely to be of a higher histologic grade and less frequently presented with an advanced clinical stage when compared to ER-/PR- tumors. Further, the ER+/PR- tumors were associated with a disease-specific survival intermediate to that between ER+/PR+ and ER-/PR- tumors. An ER H-score of ≥270 was associated with a significantly superior relapse-free survival in the ER+/PR- tumors, suggesting that a near-maximal ER expression is needed to compensate for the altered ER signaling in these tumors. Pathologic stage and HER2 status were independent prognostic factors in the ER+/PR- tumors. These findings may provide additional insights in directing clinical decision making for individualized systemic therapy in the pursuit of precision medicine.     

雌孕激素受体与女性原发乳腺癌术后复发转移关系的临床研究

目的:分析乳腺癌患者雌激素受体(es-trogen receptor,ER)和孕激素受体(progesteronereceptor,PR)状态与术后复发、转移部位的关系。方法:1989~1994年经天津医科大学附属肿瘤医院收治乳腺癌病例且雌、孕激素受体明确、术后随访完整的病例1372例。根据ER和PR状态分组,总结ER和PR状态与首次治疗后发生复发、转移部位的关系。结果:ER /PR 组患者皮肤、骨骼转移率为10·91%,明显高于ER-/PR-组(5·56%),P=0·0053;ER-/PR-组内脏转移率为15·56%,高于ER /PR 组(3·64%),P=0·0000。激素依赖性组5年总生存率和无瘤生存率(82·31%,80·04%)高于非激素依赖性组(77·22%,73·89%),P<0·05。两组10年总生存率、无瘤生存率并无区别。结论:乳腺癌在晚期转移部位与ER、PR受体状态有关,ER /PR 组5年总生存率、无瘤生存率高于ER-/PR-组,进行综合治疗是提高总生存率、无瘤生存率的关键。     

改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌放疗效果与ER、PR及HER2相关性分析

目的 探讨改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌放疗效果与雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）及人类表皮生长因子受体2（HER2）的相关性.方法 选取福建医科大学附属漳州市医院2008年1月至2013年1月乳腺外科收治的进行改良根治术的腋窝淋巴结阳性的乳腺癌患者350例,其中216例接受了放疗,134例未接受放疗,根据ER、PR及HER2的免疫组织化学结果,将所有患者分为三阴性乳腺癌（ER-/PR-/HER2-）、HER2阳性（ER-/PR-/HER2＋）、Luminal B（ER ＋/PR＋/HER2＋）及Luminal A（ER ＋/PR ＋/HER2-）4组,比较放疗对4组患者局部复发率、远处转移率和无瘤生存率的影响.结果 中位随访48个月,放疗降低了三阴性乳腺癌、HER2阳性、Luminal B及Luminal A 4组患者的局部复发率（x2=6.23,P=0.01;x2=8.02,P=0.00;x2=15.43,P=0.00;x2 =4.47,P=0.03）,且前3组放疗患者的远处转移率（x2=4.18,P=0.04;x2 =6.35,P=0.01;x2=43.31,P=0.00）和无瘤生存率（x2=9.78,P=0.00;x2=10.83,P=0.00;x2=16.95,P=0.00）相对于未放疗患者差异具有统计学意义.但放疗对Luminal A组患者的远处转移率和无瘤生存率无影响（P＞0.05）.结论 不同的ER、PR和HER2状态对于改良根治术后腋窝淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者的放疗结果具有一定影响.     

Immunohistochemical investigation of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast tumors

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor levels were assayed in 344 breast tumors. The following 4 patterns were identified: ER+ PR(+)--61%; ER+ PR- 24%; ER- PR(+)--15% and ER- PR(-)--35%. While no correlation was found between histological pattern, on the one hand, and the ER/PR ratio and age, on the other, there was one between estrogen and progesterone receptor content, on the one hand, and age, tumor size and metastatic spread to regional lymph nodes, on the other (p > 0.001).     

Prospective comparison of switches in biomarker status between primary and recurrent breast cancer: the Breast Recurrence In Tissues Study (BRITS)

Introduction  

Immunohistochemistry of primary breast cancer is routinely used to guide changes in therapy at the time of relapse. Retrospective reviews suggest that the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) receptor may differ between the primary and loco-regional recurrence or distant metastases. The Breast Recurrence In Tissues Study (BRITS) was a large, multicentre, prospective study to examine changes in ER, PR and HER2.     

Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and oncoprotein HER-2 as a marker for clinical course and outcome in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine body (immunohistologic study)

A retrospective immunohistological assay identified estrogen (ER) (72%) and progesterone (PR) (71%) receptor content in tumors from 76 patients with endometroid cancer (ER+ PR(+)--63.2%; ER- PR(-)--22.3%; ER+ PR- 9.2%; ER- PR+ -5.3%). Pattern R+ involved well differentiated cells, slight invasion of the myometrium and infrequent spreading to the regional lymph nodes, as compared with cases of unidentified ER or PR. Five-year survival in patients with ER+ PR+ tumors was 83% vs. 53% in cases without steroid hormone receptor expression (p = 0.04). HER 2 overexpression was found in 31.6% of tumors involving a decrease in total survival from 73 to 54.2% (p = 0.04). No significant correlation was established between ER and PR, on the one hand, and HER 2 expression, on the other. HER 2 overexpression leveled off the prognostic value of steroid receptor expression to a considerable degree; relapse incidence in patients with HER 2 overexpression in ER+ PR+ tumors rose 9-26.7% while five-year survival dropped 88-60% (p = 0.03). A distinct correlation between ER and PR expression (r = 0.96) was reported by D.C. Alfred et al. and verified by the H-scor procedure (R.A. Mc Clelland et al.). This procedure for steroid receptor expression determination is as the first unsophisticated, yet informative, method.