Prognostic value of hormonal receptors, p53, ki67 and HER2/neu expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The role of molecular and biological factors in ovarian cancer is controversial. We investigated the levels of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, HER2/neu, p-53 and Ki 67 in patients with advanced ovarian cancer and correlated the results with the clinical course in order to define their predictive or prognostic significance. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 72 patients with ovarian cancer treated from 1999 to 2003 were analyzed. Overexpression of C-erb-B2 was defined as herceptest ++/+++ and positive fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or herceptest +++/+++. Positivity for ER and PR was determined by > or =10% of the cellular membranes immunostained. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic impact of the molecular markers. RESULTS: 49 of the 72 patients were ER + (68%) and 36 PR + (50%). In 45 patients (62.5%) expression of p53 was > or =10%. Overexpression of C-erb-2 was found in 4 tumor samples (5%). A Ki67 labelled nuclear area >30% was found to be associated with a higher rate of complete response (chi(2); p=0.05). None of the biological markers were significantly associated with progression free survival (PFS). By multivariate analysis residual tumor after debulking surgery and ER status were associated with OS (p< or =0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ki67 nuclear expression >30% is predictive of complete response in advanced ovarian cancer. HER2/neu overexpression is scarce in our study. Positive ER is an independent prognostic factor for OS. Further research with larger studies and hormonal treatment is guaranteed.     

Ki67 Index in Breast Cancer: Correlation with Other Prognostic Markers and Potential in Pakistani Patients

Introduction: Breast cancer aggressiveness can be correlated with proliferation status of tumor cells, whichcan be ascertained with tumor grade and Ki67 indexing. However due to lack of reproducibility, the ASCO donot recommend routine use of Ki67 in determining prognosis in newly diagnosed breast cancers. We thereforeaimed to determine associations of the Ki67 index with other prognostic markers like tumor size, grade, lymphnode metastasis, ER, PR and HER2neu status. Methods: A total of 194 cases of newly diagnosed breast cancerwere included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining for ER, PR, HER2neu and Ki67 was performed bythe DAKO envision method. Associations of the Ki67 index with other prognostic factors were evaluated bothas continuous and categorical variables. Results: Mean age of the patients was 51.7 years (24-90). Mean Ki67index was 26.9% (1-90). ER, PR, HER2neu positivity was noted in 90/194 cases (46.4%), 74/194 cases (38.1%)and 110/194 cases (56.70%) respectively. Significant association was found between Ki67 and tumor grade,PR, HER2neu positivity and lymph node status, but no link was apparent with ER positivity and tumor size.There wasan inverse relation between Ki67 index and PR positivity, whereas a direct correlation was seen withHER2neu positivity. However, high Ki67 (>30%) was associated with decreased HER2neu positivity as comparedto intermediate Ki67 (16-30%). The same trend was established with lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Ourstudy indicates that with high grade tumors, clinical utility of ki67 is greater in combination with other prognosticmarkers because we found that tumors with Ki67 higher than 30% have better prognostic profile comparedto tumors with intermediate Ki67 level, as reflected by slightly lower frequency of lymph node metastasis andHER2neu expression. Therefore we suggest that Ki67 index should be categorized into high, intermediate andlow groups when considering adjuvant chemotherapy and prognostic stratification.     

Overexpression of the p16 cell cycle inhibitor in breast cancer is associated with a more malignant phenotype

In order to study the role of the p16^INK4A(MTS1/CDKN2a) tumor suppressor in breast cancer, we analyzed p16 protein expression in 60 breast cancer samples which were also analyzed for expression of Rb, Ki67, HER2/neu, and estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR). P16 expression was investigated by two methods: western blotting (WB) followed by densitometry, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The Rb status was studied by western blotting, and expression of Ki67, HER2/neu, ER, and PR was analyzed immunohistochemically. P16-negative results were found in 18% of the carcinomas by WB, but in only one case by IHC and were not associated with established prognostic parameters. In contrast, p16 overexpression which was detected by WB and IHC in 15% and 25% of the tumors, respectively, was significantly associated with unfavorable prognostic indicators. High p16 expression as detected by both methods correlated significantly with high grading and a negative estrogen receptor status. In addition, a significant association of p16 staining with inverse progesterone receptor status and high Ki67 expression was found with IHC. No correlation of p16 expression with clinical stage, HER2/neu immunostaining, Rb expression or Rb phosphorylation was found. Comparison of western blot results and immunohistochemistry suggests that both nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in tumor cells is specific and due to p16 expression. We conclude that high p16 reactivity (both nuclear and cytoplasmic) is indicative of a more undifferentiated, malignant phenotype in mammary carcinomas.     

p53 accumulation is a strong predictor of recurrence in estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitors have played a central role in endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, factors predictive of the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors, and prognostic factors, both for early and late recurrence in women treated with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors have not been identified. Whole genome analysis identified that a TP53 gene mutation exists in ER‐positive breast cancers, although the frequency of TP53 gene mutation in luminal tumors is lower compared with basal‐like or human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancers. We examined expression of p53, as well as ER, progesterone receptor, HER2 and Ki‐67 using immunohistochemistry in postmenopausal ER‐positive breast cancer patients who were treated with aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant endocrine therapy. There were 53 (21%) tumors that contained 10% or more p53‐positive cells. High p53 expression was positively correlated with tumor grade, HER2 score and Ki‐67 expression. Significant association was observed between disease‐free survival and high p53 expression in multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001). Compared with women without recurrence, women with early recurrence had significantly higher p53 expression (P < 0.0001), as did women with late recurrence (P = 0.037). The present study demonstrates that p53 accumulation is a strong predictor of both early and late recurrence in ER‐positive breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant endocrine therapy. TP53 gene alteration might be a key biological characteristic of ER‐positive breast cancer.     

Induction chemotherapy for breast carcinoma: predictive markers and relation with outcome

Induction chemotherapy provides an excellent model for evaluation of potential predictive factors. We studied expression of SBR grade, estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, HER2, Ki67 and P53 on core biopsies before and after chemotherapy in a series of 115 patients, who received anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy for primary breast cancer. HER2 overexpression independently predicted response to neoadjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Patients with HER2-positive status are 4.54 times more likely to have a pathological complete response than those with negative status (p<0.005). HER2, ER and PR status were stable during treatment. P53 and Ki67 significantly increased after treatment (p<0.005 and p<0.0005). SBR grade, proliferation markers, ER evaluated before and after treatment predicted disease-free survival (DFS) in univariate analysis.     

乳腺癌临床病理指标以及分子分型对TEC新辅助化疗病理完全缓解的预测价值

目的  本研究旨在探讨乳腺癌临床病理指标以及乳腺癌分子分型对多西他赛联合表柔比星、环磷酰胺（TEC）的 新辅助化疗后病理完全缓解率（pathological complete response pCR）的预测价值。方法   对 214例经4周期TEC新辅助化疗的乳腺癌患者的临床病理资料进行回顾性分析;免疫组织化学检测经核心针穿刺 的癌组织雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）、人类表皮生长因子受体-2（HER2）、Ki67、p53表达情况,原位基 因免疫荧光杂交（FISH）检测HER2有无过表达;根据ER、PR、HER2、Ki67的表达情况将乳腺癌分为4种分子分型： LuminalA、 LuminalB、HER2过表达型和三阴性乳腺癌。分析不同的临床病理指标、不同分子分型与pCR的相关性。结果  4周期TEC新辅助化疗后pCR率为14.0%（30/214）;单因素分析：ER、PR、Ki67、乳腺癌分子分型与pCR均具有显 著相关性（P＜0.05）;乳腺癌分子分型各组间显示pCR率不同：LuminalA＜LuminalB＜HER2过表达型＜三阴性乳腺癌 ;多因素分析：与pCR具有显著相关性的分类变量为ER（OR=0.311,95%CI：0.136～0.712;P=0.006）和Ki67 （OR=2.788,95%CI：1.061～7.327;P=0.038）。结论  ER、PR、Ki67以及乳腺癌分子分型可能是TEC新辅助化疗后乳腺癌pCR的预测指标。     

中国上海地区乳腺癌的临床病理特征分析

目的 研究上海地区乳腺癌患者的临床病理特征。方法统计2008年至2010年上海地区1122例乳腺癌患者的相关临床病理特征,并分析它们之间的联系。结果 男性乳腺癌比例为0.89％,低于其他地区。患者发病平均年龄为53岁（中位55岁）,其中51～70岁人数最多,占43.85％。就诊时绝大多数为Ⅱ期,其中49.02％患者伴有淋巴结转移。病理分型中浸润性非特殊癌占94.47％,其中浸润性导管癌为90.91％,与国内其他地区相比,特殊类型癌比较少,占3.57％。中位肿瘤直径为3cm,巨大型肿瘤较少。三阴性乳腺癌占1881％,ER、PR、HER-2的阳性表达率分别为48.6％、59.4％和23.5％。术后病理分期与ER表达呈负相关,与HER-2呈正相关,与PR、Ki-67、E-cadherin、p53、TOPO-Ⅱ、p27、CK5／6均无关。组织学分级可能与E-cadherin有关（P=0.051）,与其他表达无关。淋巴结转移与HER-2表达呈正相关;肿瘤大小与ER表达呈负相关,与HER-2表达呈正相关。ER表达与PR呈正相关,与HER-2、Ki-67及p53呈负相关。HER-2与ER、PR、CK5／6表达呈负相关,与Ki-67、TOPO-Ⅱ呈正相关。Ki-67与TOPO-Ⅱ、HER-2表达呈正相关,与ER、p53、p27呈负相关。结论 上海地区乳腺癌患者的临床病理特征具有地域性,联合检测ER、PR、HER-2、Ki-67和p53对其诊断并指导治疗具有一定的临床意义。     

Ki67 and TP53 expressions predict recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Tumor markers Ki67, TP53, and TP63 are common labels in the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BCa) around the world. The combination of those biomarkers may have advantages in predicting BCa prognosis and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) postoperative recurrence. We investigated the immunohistochemical profiles of 313 bladder cancer samples classified under the WHO/ISUP (2004) grading scale and the UICC-TNM (2002) classification. Then we investigated their predictive value in the tumor recurrence of 270 NMIBC patients after TURBT. Expression of Ki67 correlates with grade, stage, tumor size, and tumor numbers. Semiquantitative evaluation of TP53 correlates with grade and invasive conditions. The positive expression rate of TP63 correlated with tumor grade and stage. The combined effect of TP53 and Ki67 revealed a predictive value in NMIBC recurrence. However, the positive TP63 expression did not show any protective effect in NMIBC recurrence. The expression of TP53 and Ki67 could be used to predict the risk of NMIBC recurrence postoperatively.     

荧光原位杂交（FISH）检测乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态与p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ表达的相关性

目的:研究乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态和p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达的相互关系,以及HER-2基因扩增与HER-2蛋白表达的相关性。方法:运用FISH和IHC技术分别检测172例浸润性乳腺癌中HER-2基因状态及HER-2、p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达情况,分析HER-2基因状态与其相互的关系。结果:172例浸润性乳腺癌中HER-2基因扩增与p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达呈正相关（P<0.05）,HER-2基因扩增阳性率为43.6%（75/172）,HER-2基因扩增与HER-2蛋白表达具有相关性（P<0.05）。结论:联合检测HER-2基因状态和p53、Ki-67、TOPOⅡ蛋白表达可为浸润性乳腺癌的预后及分子靶向治疗提供依据。     

Tissue microarrays for comparing molecular features with proliferation activity in breast cancer

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) are potentially suited to find associations between molecular features and clinical outcome. Enhanced cell proliferation, as measured by Ki67 immunohistochemistry, is related to poor patient prognosis in many different tumor types. Ki67 expression shows considerable intratumoral heterogeneity. It is unclear if the TMA format is suitable for the analysis of potentially heterogeneous markers because of the small size of TMA spots. We have analyzed a breast cancer TMA containing 2,517 breast tissues, including 2,222 neoplastic and 295 normal or premalignant samples, for Ki67 labeling index (Ki67 LI) and additional markers with a known relationship to Ki67 LI by immunohistochemistry (ER, PR, Bcl-2, Egfr, p16, p53) and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (HER2, MDM2, CCND1, MYC). A high Ki67 LI was linked to tumor phenotype including grade (p < 0.0001), stage (p < 0.0001), nodal stage (p = 0.0018), and patient prognosis (p < 0.0001), elevated protein levels of p53, p16 and Egfr, reduced levels of Bcl2, ER, and PR (p < 0.0001 each), as well as amplifications of HER2, MYC, CCND1 and MDM2 (p < 0.0001 each). In summary, all expected associations between Ki67 and the analyzed molecular markers could be reproduced with high statistical significance using a TMA containing only one tissue sample per tumor, measuring 0.6 mm in diameter. We conclude that associations with cell proliferation can be reliably analyzed in a TMA format.     

p53、Ki-67、TopoⅡ、GST、P170对三阴乳腺癌预后的相关性分析

目的 探讨p53、Ki-67、DNA拓扑异构酶Ⅱ(DNA topoisomeraseII,TopoII)、谷胱甘肽转移酶(glutathione-S-transfreases,GST)、P-糖蛋白(P-glycoprotein,P170)免疫组化的表达在三阴乳腺癌发生发展中的生物学特征及其对预后评估的意义。方法 回顾性分析1993年1月-2003 年12月我院初诊乳腺癌病人共515 例进行筛选,共得出88例三阴乳腺癌(ER、PR、HER-2 均为阴性)。根据ER、PR、HER-2的表达,将其分为3组:三阴组(ER-、PR-、HER-2-)、HR组(ER+ /PR+HER-2-)和HER-2组(ER-、PR-、HER-2+)。统计这3组三阴乳腺癌标本p53、Ki-67、 TopoⅡ、GST、P170 的表达,并调查这3组病人5 年无病生存率与5 年内死亡率。结果 与非“三阴”乳腺癌相比,“三阴”乳腺癌患者p53、P170、Ki-67、GST表达水平均为最高(59.5%、78.6%、19.0%、66.7%),在术后5年内三阴组的复发率为23.9%,死亡率为22.7%,复发风险(HR 2.46,CI:1.04-5.84;P＜0.05)和死亡风险(HR 2.77,CI:1.09-7.02;P＜0.05),之后明显降低。结论 p53、P170、Ki-67、GST 在三阴乳腺癌的高表达与其不良预后具有相关性。     

Correlation between Ki67 and Histological Grade in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Preoperative Chemotherapy

Background and Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease and cell proliferation markers may helpto identify subtypes of clinical interest. We here analyzed the correlation between cell proliferation determinedby Ki67 and HG in BC patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy (PCT). Materials and Methods: Weobtained clinical/pathological data from patients with invasive BC treated at our institution from 1999 until2012. Expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), epidermal growth factor receptor type2 (HER2) and Ki67 were determined by immuno-histochemistry (IHC). Clinicopathological subtypes weredefined as: Luminal A, ER and/or PR positive, HER2 negative, HG 1 or 2; Luminal B, ER and/or PR positive,HER2 negative or positive and/or HG 3; triple negative (TN), ER, PR and HER2 negative independent ofHG; HER2 positive, ER, PR negative and HER2 positive, independent of HG. By using Ki67, a value of 14%separated Luminal A and B tumors, independently of the histological grade. We analyzed correlations betweenKi67 and HG, to define BC subtypes and their predictive value for response to PCT. Results: 1,560 BC patientswere treated in the period, 147 receiving PCT (9.5%). Some 57 had sufficient clinicopathological information tobe included in the study. Median age was 52 years (26-72), with 87.7% invasive ductal carcinomas (n=50). Weperformed IHC for Ki67 in 40 core biopsies and 50 surgical biopsies, 37 paired samples with Ki67 before andafter chemotherapy being available. There was no significant correlation between Ki67 and HG (p=0.237), bothcategorizing patients into different subtypes. In most cases Ki67 decreased after PCT (65.8%). Only 3 patientshad pathologic complete response (cPR). Conclusions: In our experience we did not find associations betweenKi67 and HG. Determination of clinicopathological luminal subtypes differs by using Ki67 or HG.     

p53, HER2 and tumor cell apoptosis correlate with clinical outcome after neoadjuvant bevacizumab plus chemotherapy in breast cancer

Bevacizumab, an antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been incorporated into chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of several cancer types including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify tumor and angiogenic factors that potentially associate with outcome. In a pilot trial, 21 patients with inflammatory breast cancer and locally advanced breast cancer received bevacizumab plus doxorubicin-docetaxel chemotherapy before surgery. Baseline p53, HER2, tumor apoptosis, Ki67, estrogen receptor (ER), VEGF-A, serum VEGF (sVEGF), VEGFR2-Y951 and microvessel density (MVD) were prospectively designed and determined by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards analyses. With a median follow-up of 65.9 months, patients with low apoptosis or p53-negative tumors had significantly longer survival than those with high apoptosis or p53-positive tumors (median 61.5 vs. 20.2 months; HR 0.22; p=0.011 for apoptosis and median 59.6 vs. 24.2 months; HR 0.27; p=0.016 for p53). Low Ki67 versus high Ki67 exhibited a trend towards association with survival (median 57.1 vs. 17.3 months, HR 0.34, p=0.07). Patients with HER2-negative tumors had significantly longer PFS than those with HER2-positive tumors (median 31.2 vs. 9.4 months; HR 0.23; p=0.03). ER, VEGF-A, sVEGF, VEGFR2-Y951 and MVD were not significantly associated with outcome. Our data suggest that baseline p53, apoptosis and HER2 are each significantly associated with outcome in patients who received bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.     

乳腺浸润性癌MRI表现与生物因子表达的相关性研究

目的 探讨乳腺浸润性癌MRI表现与生物因子雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)、人表皮生长因子受体2(HER2)、肿瘤增殖抗原Ki-67、肿瘤抑制蛋白p53表达的相关性及临床意义.方法 回顾性分析69例乳腺浸润性癌患者的MRI表现及生物因子ER、PR、HER2、Ki-67、p53的表达情况,采用Spearman相关分析和分类回归树(CART)算法分析MRI表现与各生物因子表达的相关性.结果 HER2表达与淋巴结转移呈正相关(r=0.299,P﹤0.05),p53表达与病变表现为肿块呈负相关(r=-0.261,P﹤0.05);肿块分叶征象与Ki-67(r=0.472,P﹤0.01)、p53(r=0.25,P﹤0.05)阳性表达呈正相关.根据MRI表现分析各生物因子表达的CART决策树,分类准确度依次为:Ki-67(0.797)﹥ER(0.754)﹥PR(0.725)﹥HER2(0.478)﹥p53(0.464).结论 乳腺浸润性癌的MRI表现与生物因子ER、PR、HER2、Ki-67、p53的表达有一定的相关性,可作为乳腺癌的重要诊断指标.     

局部进展期乳腺癌新辅助化疗前后生物标志物表达变化与疗效的相关性

目的：探讨局部进展期乳腺癌行新辅助化疗前后相关生物标志物的表达变化情况与化疗疗效的相关性。方法：采用免疫组化方法检测102例新辅助化疗前后局部进展期乳腺癌组织中雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）、人类表皮生长因子受体－2（HER －2）、p53和增殖细胞核抗原（Ki －67）等表达,分析化疗前后生物标志物表达变化与化疗疗效的相关性。结果：ER 阴性组、PR 阴性组、Ki －67高表达组的新辅助化疗有效率分别为50．0％、49．1％、51．4％,高于 ER 阳性组26．0％、PR 阳性组25．5％、Ki －67低表达组9．4％（P ＜0．05）。Logistic 多因素回归分析显示,ER、Ki －67的表达水平是评估化疗疗效的独立因素（P ＜0．05）。Luminal 型乳腺癌总生存期高于 non －Luminal 型（Long －rank 检验,P ＜0．05）。结论：ER、Ki －67、分子亚型可作为局部进展期乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效判断的重要预测指标。     

Expression of p53 Breast Cancer in Kurdish Women in the West of Iran: a Reverse Correlation with Lymph Node Metastasis

Background: In breast cancer (BC), it has been suggested that nuclear overexpression of p53 protein might be an indicator of poor prognosis. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression of p53 BC in Kurdish women from the West of Iran and its correlation with other clinicopathology figures. Materials and Methods: In the present retrospective study, 231 patients were investigated for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positivity, defined as 10% positive tumor cells with nuclear staining. A binary logistic regression model was selected using Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) in stepwise selection for determination of important factors. Results: ER, PR, the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and p53 were positive in 58.4%, 55.4%, 59.7% and 45% of cases, respectively. Ki67 index was divided into two groups: 54.5% had Ki67<20% and 45.5% had Ki67 20%. Of 214 patients, 137(64%) had lymph node metastasis and of 186 patients, 122(65.6%) had vascular invasion. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that there was inverse significant correlation between lymph node metastasis (P=0.008, OR 0.120 and 95%CI 0.025-0.574), ER status (P=0.006, OR 0.080, 95%CI 0.014-0.477) and a direct correlation between HER2 (P=005, OR 3.047, 95%CI 1.407-6.599) with the expression of p53. Conclusions: As in a number of studies, expression of p53 had a inverse correlation with lymph node metastasis and ER status and also a direct correlation with HER2 status. Also, p53-positivity is more likely in triple negative BC compared to other subtypes.     

Prognostic relevance of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow and biological factors of 265 primary breast carcinomas

Introduction

The prognostic significance of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow (DTC-BM) of breast cancer patients has been demonstrated in many studies. Yet, it is not clear which of the primary tumors' biological factors predict hematogenous dissemination. We therefore examined 'tissue micro arrays' (TMAs) of 265 primary breast carcinomas from patients with known bone marrow (BM) status for HER2, Topoisomerase IIα (Top IIa), Ki 67, and p53.

Methods

BM analysis was performed by cytospin preparation and immunocytochemical staining for cytokeratin (CK). TMAs were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for HER2, Top IIa, Ki 67 and p53, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER2.

Results

HER2 (2+/3+) was positive in 35/167 (21%) cases (FISH 24.3%), Top IIa (>10%) in 87/187 (46%), Ki 67 in 52/184 (28%) and p53 (>5%) in 61/174 cases (34%). Of 265 patients, 68 (25.7%) showed DTC-BM with a median of 2/2 × 10⁶ cells (1 to 1,500). None of the examined factors significantly predicted BM positivity. Significant correlation was seen between HER2 IHC and Top IIa (p = 0.06), Ki 67 (p = 0.031), and p53 (p < .001). Top IIa correlated with Ki 67 and p53, and Ki 67 also with p53 (p = 0.004). After a median follow-up of 60.5 months (7 to 255), the presence of DTC-BM showed prognostic relevance for overall survival (p = 0.03), whereas HER2 (IHC, p = 0.04; FISH, p = 0.03) and Ki 67 (p = 0.04) correlated with disease free survival, and HER2 with distant disease free survival (IHC, p = 0.06; FISH, p = 0.05).

Discussion

The congruence of the examined factors' expression rates indicates a causal line of suppressor, proliferation, and mitosis markers, and growth factor receptors. Hematogenous tumor cell spread seems to be an independent process. The examination of these factors on DTC-BM is the aim of ongoing research.     

Biological effects of fulvestrant on estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer: short,medium and long‐term effects based on sequential biopsies

We report the first study of the biological effect of fulvestrant on ER positive clinical breast cancer using sequential biopsies through to progression. Thirty‐two locally/systemically advanced breast cancers treated with first‐line fulvestrant (250 mg/month) were biopsied at therapy initiation, 6 weeks, 6 months and progression and immunohistochemically‐analyzed for Ki67, ER, EGFR and HER2 expression/signaling activity. This series showed good fulvestrant responses (duration of response [DoR] = 25.8 months; clinical benefit = 81%). Ki67 fell (p < 0.001) in 79% of tumours by 6 months and lower Ki67 at all preprogression time‐points predicted for longer DoR. ER and PR significantly decreased in all tumours by 6 months (p < 0.001), with some declines in ER (serine 118) phosphorylation and Bcl‐2 (p = 0.007). There were modest HER2 increases (p = 0.034, 29% tumours) and loss of any detectable EGFR phosphorylation (p = 0.024, 50% tumours) and MAP kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation (p = 0.019, 65% tumours) by 6 months. While ER remained low, there was some recovery of Ki67, Bcl‐2 and (weakly) EGFR/MAPK activity in 45–67% patients at progression. Fulvestrant's anti‐proliferative impact is related to DoR, but while commonly downregulating ER and indicators of its signaling and depleting EGFR/MAPK signaling in some patients, additional elements must determine response duration. Residual ER at fulvestrant relapse explains reported sensitivity to further endocrine therapies. Occasional modest treatment‐induced HER2 and weakly detectable EGFR/HER2/MAPK signaling at relapse suggests targeting of such activity might have value alongside fulvestrant in some patients. However, unknown pathways must drive relapse in most. Ki67 has biomarker potential to predict fulvestrant outcome and as a quantitative measure of response.     

Letrozole inhibits tumor proliferation more effectively than tamoxifen independent of HER1/2 expression status

BACKGROUND: The biological basis for the superior efficacy of neoadjuvant letrozole versus tamoxifen for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive locally advanced breast cancer was investigated by analyzing tumor proliferation and expression of estrogen-regulated genes before and after the initiation of therapy. METHODS: Tumor samples were obtained at baseline and at the end of treatment from 185 patients participating in a double blind randomized Phase III study of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. These paired specimens were simultaneously analyzed for Ki67, ER, progesterone receptor (PgR), trefoil factor 1 (PS2), HER1 (epidermal growth factor receptor), and HER2 (ErbB2 or neu) by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The treatment-induced reduction in geometric mean Ki67 was significantly greater with letrozole (87%) than tamoxifen (75%; analysis of covariance P = 0.0009). Differences in the average Ki67 reduction were particularly marked for ER-positive tumors that overexpressed HER1 and/or HER2 (88 versus 45%, respectively; P = 0.0018). Twenty-three of 92 tumors (25%) on tamoxifen and 14 of 93 on letrozole (15%) showed a paradoxical increase in Ki67 with treatment, and the majority of these cases was HER1/2 negative. Letrozole, but not tamoxifen, significantly reduced expression of the estrogen-regulated proteins PgR and trefoil factor 1, regardless of HER1/2 status (P < 0.0001). ER down-regulation occurred with both agents, although levels decreased more with tamoxifen (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Letrozole inhibited tumor proliferation to a greater extent than tamoxifen. The molecular basis for this advantage appears complex but includes possible tamoxifen agonist effects on the cell cycle in both HER1/2+ and HER1/2- tumors. A pattern of continued proliferation despite appropriate down-regulation of PgR expression with estrogen deprivation or tamoxifen was also documented. This observation suggests the estrogenic regulation of proliferation and PgR expression may be dissociated in endocrine therapy resistant cells.     

乳腺癌复发及转移灶分子生物学指标的变化

目的:探讨分析复发转移性乳腺癌患者中原发灶和复发转移灶的肿瘤组织ER、PR、Her-2、Ki67及p53免疫组化表达变化规律及特征.方法:选取我院66例复发转移性乳腺癌患者,分别分析原发灶和复发灶、原发灶和转移灶的肿瘤组织ER、PR、Her-2、Ki67及p53免疫组化表达情况.结果:在原位复发性乳腺癌复发前后表达变化差异经x2检验后提示ER:P =0.615;PR:P =0.497;Her-2:P =0.562;Ki67:P =0.001;p53:P =0.394,仅Ki67表达在原发灶和复发灶之间的变化有统计学意义(P＜0.05).在转移性乳腺癌复发前后表达变化差异经x2检验后提示ER:P=0.711;PR:P =0.538;Her-2:P =0.664;Ki67:P=0.001;p53:P=0.447,仅Ki67表达在原发灶和转移灶之间的变化有统计学意义(P＜0.05).同时得出,复发性和转移性乳腺癌组织中由阳性转阴性比率均高于由阴性转阳性.ER、PR、Her-2、p53在复发性和转移性乳腺癌复发前后表达差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:复发转移性乳腺癌组织Ki67的变化主要为表达呈衰减趋势(复发转移前的高表达转为复发转移后的低表达),仅Ki67表达在原发灶和转移灶之间的变化有统计学意义,表明Ki67是一项敏感指标,对预测化疗效果有重要的指导意义.ER、PR、Her-2、p53的改变无统计学意义,但是也存在部分病例发生变化,应需对该类病例讨论或修订其后续治疗方案.