Immunohistochemical Assessment of Estrogen, Progesterone Receptors and HER2-neu Over Expression by Core Needle Biopsy in a Sample of Iraqi Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess ER, PR and HER2-neu expression in the specimens obtained by core needle biopsies (CNB) and to correlate the findings with some clinicopathological parameters such as (age, family history, side of breast lump, histological type and grade).

Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted on 62 female patients complaining of palpable breast lumps. All were subjected to the triple assessment test. Patients with mammography or ultrasonography results signifying BI-RADS 4 or   BI-RADS 5 were selected for core needle biopsy using freehand automated gun instrument. Twenty –three out of 52 malignant cases (44.2%) were with positive scores for ER. Twenty-six (50%) of cases were positive regarding PR expression. HER2/neu overexpression revealed positive scores in 22 cases (42.3%).

Results: The correlation between expression of ER, PR and HER2/neu with family history, the side of breast lump and pathological type of carcinoma were statistically not significant. On the other hand, a significant correlation was noted between HER2neu expression and women’s age; the positive expression was more demonstrated among younger aged women (mean age 45 year), nevertheless, this correlation was not significant with ER,PR expression.  Significant correlation was also found between HER2/neu over expression in breast cancer specimens and the histopathological grading, while that association was not maintained for ER and PR expression.

Conclusion: Immunohistochemical assessment of hormone receptors and HER2/neu expression  in  specimens of  breast cancer tissues obtained by CNB technique can indicate tumor aggressiveness and further  need for neoadjuvant therapy before surgical intervention.