Discordances in ER,PR, and HER2 between primary breast cancer and brain metastasis

When distant metastases are discovered, it is important to determine receptor profiles of these lesions through histologic examination. However, brain metastasis sites are difficult to reach to be routinely biopsied. The purpose of this study was to determine expression profiles of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) and the existence of discordance between primary breast cancer and brain metastasis. A total of 37 patients who underwent craniotomies for metastatic brain tumors arising from breast cancer at National Cancer Center (NCC) of Korea between 2002 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathologic data were collected from electronic medical records. Receptor profiles of primary breast cancer and brain metastasis in each patient were identified. Data of ER, PR, and HER2 expression in brain metastasis were available in electronic medical records for 21 (56.8%) of 37 cases. Results of ER, PR, and HER2 expression were positive in 47.6, 42.9, and 38.1% of patients with brain metastasis, respectively. Receptor conversion occurred in 11 (52.4%) of 21 patients (for ER, 9.5%; for PR, 38.1%; for HER2, 23.8%). Overall survival was longer in patients with concordant receptor expression patterns between primary breast cancer and brain lesion compared to that in patients with discordant patterns. However, such difference was not statistically significant (discordant vs. concordant median survival: 19.2 versus 31.1 months, p?=?0.181). Receptor conversion in BCBMs was observed in over 50% of Korean patients used in this study. HER2 conversion was observed in 23.8% of patients in this study. Therefore, if resistance to anti-HER2 treatment is suspected in patients with BCBM, biopsy is needed to determine receptor profiles of brain lesion.     

Status of HER2 amplification, polysomy 17 and histopathological features of 425 Pakistani breast cancer patients

HER2 gene amplification in invasive breast cancer is a robust predictive marker for response to transtuzumab therapy. This study was undertaken to measure concordance between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and FISH for HER2 gene amplification in invasive breast tumors, as well as the presence of polysomy 17 and possible correlation with demographics and histopathological variables, including ER and PR positivity. A total of 425 cases of infiltrating carcinoma of breast (99% IDC-NOS) were studied. HER2 over expression was tested by IHC and FISH methods. Association between IHC and FISH in both subsets was calculated by amplification ratio including polysomy 17. Out of 425 specimens, 128 (30%) were positive for HER2 amplification by FISH test, whereas only 78 (24%) tumors with 2+ expression showed amplification. In contrast, 39 (74%) demonstrated 3+ IHC score and HER2 gene amplification. The histological variables including tumor size, tumor type, and lymph node involvement did not influence the outcome of FISH analysis. The ER and PR status showed significantly greater positivity in patients negative for HER2 amplification. Polysomy 17 was detected in 23.7% patients and was positively associated with ER and PR expression (P= <0.05). Our study showed a concordance of 24% between 2+ IHC and FISH amplification, while in 3+ IHC cases the concordance was 74%. Significant links of HER2 amplification was seen with ER andPR negativity and higher tumor grade. In addition, non-significant correlations were noted with other variables like tumor type, size and lymph node status.     

Limited human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 discordance in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab,a population based study

BackgroundAccurate assessment of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer is essential for proper treatment decisions. HER2 positivity confirmation rates in breast cancer trials by central testing pathology laboratories were reported to be approximately 85%. The aim of our study was to assess in a population based sample concordance of HER2 status in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients locally tested HER2 positive and treated with trastuzumab. Moreover cost-effectiveness of in situ hybridisation (ISH) in patients with an immunohistochemical score 3+ (IHC3+) was explored.MethodsMBC patients treated between 2005 and 2009 with trastuzumab-based therapy in North East Netherlands were identified by a survey of hospital pharmacies. Primary tumour samples were retested centrally for HER2 status using 1 immunohistochemical (IHC) method and two methods using ISH on tissue micro-arrays. Potential discordant patients were retested on whole tumour slides. HER2 positivity was defined as: (1) ISH amplification (according to American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) clinical practice Guideline Update) and (2) when ISH failed an IHC score of 3+. Cost-effectiveness was estimated using potential ISH and treatment costs.ResultsHER2 status could be retested in 174 of 194 (90%) patients. The HER2 concordance rate was 87%. The 21 discordant patients were in the 67% due to primary HER2 testing with only IHC. Overall survival of HER2 discordant and concordant patients was not significantly different (18 versus 25 months, p = 0.131). Structural ISH in the case of IHC3+ has an estimated potential saving of €87,710 per 100 patients.ConclusionHER2 concordance in a population based study is comparable to those described in selected populations. Discordance is mostly due to testing with only IHC. ISH in the case of IHC3+ is cost-effective.     

Prognostic utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization for determining HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer

An accurate investigation of the HER2 proto-oncogene is extremely important for the therapy and prognostication of breast cancer. Currently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are standard methods for this purpose. The aim of this study was to detect the expression and amplification of HER2 in paraffin-embedded samples of breast cancer tissue and to investigate the relationship between HER2 amplification and various clinicopathological parameters in advanced breast cancers. We used FISH to examine the HER2 gene amplification and IHC to examine the expression of HER2 protein, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in 62 advanced breast cancers. HER2 gene amplification was detected by FISH in 12 breast cancers (19%) and HER2 protein expression with a score of 3+ was detected by IHC in 11 (17%). There was a significant correlation between the HER2 gene amplification and HER2 protein overexpression in breast cancers (P<0.0001). However, some mismatching was evident: 3 cases, negative for the HER2 gene, showed a HER2 protein expression score of 3+ and 2 cases, positive for HER2 gene amplification, had HER2 protein expression scores of 0 and 1+ (negative), respectively. ER and PR were expressed in 41 (66%) and 46 (74%) cancers, respectively. No correlation was observed between the HER2 gene amplification and any of the clinicopathological parameters examined, including age, histopathological type, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node status, relapse and expression of PR. We observed three patterns among the 6 deceased cases: i) triple negativity for HER2, ER and PR, ii) positivity for HER2 gene amplification with a mismatching HER2 protein expression, and iii) positivity for the HER2 gene amplification with a matching HER2 protein expression score of 2+ or 3+. The triple negative cases and HER2 gene amplification positive cases with a mismatching HER2 protein expression had a poor outcome. These results suggest that in breast cancer, the detection of HER2 gene amplification by FISH is desirable compared with the HER2 protein expression determined by IHC. Moreover, triple negativity for HER2, ER and PR is a potentially very important prognostic marker.     

Quantitative HER2 protein levels predict outcome in fluorescence in situ hybridization‐positive patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab

BACKGROUND:

Only a portion of breast cancer patients currently selected for trastuzumab therapy respond.

METHODS:

Using a novel assay (HERmark) to quantify total human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, the authors examined outcomes in 102 trastuzumab‐treated metastatic breast cancer patients previously assessed as immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ by local but not central IHC, or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) positive, and then retested by central FISH.

RESULTS:

Of 102 MBC patients previously scored as IHC 3+ or 2+/FISH‐positive and treated with trastuzumab‐containing regimens, 98 had both central FISH and HER2 total expression values. Sixty‐six of 76 central FISH‐positive patients (87%) had high HER2 total expression levels (concordant positive), and 19 of 22 central FISH‐negative patients (86%) were HER2 total expression low (concordant negative). Fourteen percent (3 of 22) of central FISH‐negative patients were HER2 total expression high (discordant HER2 total expression high), and 13% (10 of 76) of central FISH‐positive patients were HER2 total expression low (discordant HER2 total expression low). The concordant positive group had a significantly longer time to progression (TTP, median = 11.3 months) compared with the concordant negative group (median TTP, 4.5 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.42, P < .001), and also compared with the discordant HER2 total expression low group (median TTP, 3.7 months; HR = 0.43, P = .01). The discordant HER2 total expression low group behaved similarly compared with concordant negatives (HR = 1, P = .99). In analyses restricted to central FISH‐positive patients only (n = 77), Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression identified HER2 total expression as an independent predictor of TTP (HR = 0.29, P = .0015) and overall survival (HR = 0.19, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

A subset of patients with HER2 gene amplification by FISH express low levels of HER2 protein and have reduced response to trastuzumab‐containing therapy, similar to FISH‐negative patients. This cohort represents a training dataset, and the observed relationships and derived cutoffs require validation in an independent cohort of trastuzumab‐treated metastatic breast cancer patients. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Discordance between core needle biopsy (CNB) and excisional biopsy (EB) for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and HER2 status in early breast cancer (EBC)

BackgroundAnalysis of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and HER2 status in early breast cancer (EBC) is increasingly being conducted in core needle biopsies (CNBs) taken at diagnosis but the concordance with the excisional biopsy (EB) is poorly documented.Patients and methodsPatients with EBC presenting to The Royal Marsden Hospital from June 2005 to September 2007 who had CNB and subsequent EB were included. ER and PgR were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and graded from 0 to 8 (Allred score). HER2 was determined by IHC and scored from 0 to 3+. FISH analysis was carried out in HER2 2+ cases and in discordant cases.ResultsIn all, 336 pairs of samples were compared. ER was positive in 253 CNBs (75%) for 255 EBs (76%) and was discordant in six patients (1.8%). PgR was positive in 221 CNBs (66%) and 227 (67.6%) EBs being discordant in 52 cases (15%). HER2 was positive in 41 (12.4%) of the 331 CNBs in which it was determined compared with 44 (13.3%) EBs and discordant in four cases (1.2%).ConclusionsCNB can be used with confidence for ER and HER2 determination. For PgR, due to a substantial discordance between CNB and EB, results from CNB should be used with caution.     

Discordances in ER, PR and HER2 receptors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer is evolving and subsequent adjuvant systemic treatment is mainly based on the presence of the Estrogen (ER) receptor, Progesterone (PR) receptor and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) status on the core needle biopsy prior to treatment. It is not well known whether these biomarkers change after NAC, requiring a change in further adjuvant systemic treatment. A review of the literature (PubMed search) revealed 32 relevant studies that investigated the concordance of the hormone receptors (ER and/or PR) and HER2 after NAC with or without trastuzumab. Discordance of the hormone receptor status was reported in four out of eight studies in 8-33% of the patients. About half of the studies that tested the ER and PR receptor status separately reported discordances of 2.5-17% and 5.9-51.7% respectively. Studies that concluded that ER and/or PR receptor remained stable after NAC were performed with evidently lower number of patients compared to studies that reported a change. Good concordance of the HER2 amplification tested with FISH was reported, although the HER2 expression measured with immunohistochemistry was more discordant. A switch to a negative HER2 receptor in up to 43% of the patients was reported when NAC was combined with trastuzumab.Until more comparable studies are being published, retesting the receptor status of the residual tumor after NAC should be considered in order to improve future tailored adjuvant therapies.     

HER2阳性浸润性乳腺癌新辅助治疗反应的预测因子及治疗前后HER2状态变化的评估

背景与目的： 人表皮生长因子受体2（human epidermal growth factor receptor 2,HER2）阳性浸润性乳腺癌对抗于HER2新辅助治疗的反应显著,然而不同患者的反应并不一致,部分反应较差。本研究旨在探讨HER2阳性乳腺癌新辅助治疗反应的预测因子,并进一步评估新辅助治疗前后HER2状态的不一致性。方法： 收集深圳市人民医院2019—2021年经术前粗针穿刺活检确诊的110例HER2阳性乳腺癌患者,经新辅助治疗后行手术切除。采用免疫组织化学（immunohistochemistry,IHC）及荧光原位杂交（fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH）检测术前穿刺标本中的HER2表达状态,并评估新辅助治疗后手术切除标本的病理学完全缓解（pathological complete response,pCR）状态及残余肿瘤负荷（residual cancer burden,RCB）分级,评价不同HER2状态对新辅助治疗效果的影响,并进一步比较新辅助治疗前后HER2、雌激素受体（estrogen receptor,ER）及孕激素受体（progesterone receptor,PR）状态的一致性。结果 ：110例乳腺癌患者根据HER2 IHC表达状态分为弥漫3+组（81例）、异质性3+组（20例）和2+且FISH基因扩增（2+FISH+）组（9例）。HER2弥漫3+组pCR率为54.3%,明显高于异质性3+组（5.0%）和2+FISH+组（11.1%）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,而异质性3+组和2+FISH+组的RCB分级更高。多因素分析显示,HER2弥漫3+是pCR的独立预测因子。7例（11.9%）HER2阳性乳腺癌患者在新辅助治疗后HER2转为阴性,大多数（85.7%）为异质性3+组和2+FISH+组病例。结论： HER2异质性会影响HER2阳性乳腺癌的新辅助治疗反应,评价穿刺活检标本中HER2 IHC异质性,并对新辅助治疗后残留癌灶HER2、ER和PR状态重新评估,有利于指导下一步治疗。新型抗体药物偶联物（antibody-drug conjugate,ADC）的出现有望为HER2异质性阳性乳腺癌患者带来生存获益。     

乳腺癌HER2基因扩增的临床病理意义

目的 检测乳腺癌组织中HER2基因扩增状态,评价其临床病理意义。方法 应用FISH、IHC方法分析55例乳腺癌HER2基因扩增/蛋白表达状态与临床病理特征的关系,比对IHC法与FISH检测的一致性程度。结果 55例乳腺癌FISH检测有32例（58.2%）HER2基因扩增。IHC法HER2（+++）22例中21例（95.5%）HER2基因扩增;HER2（++）12例中10例（83.3%）HER2基因扩增;HER2（+/－）21例中1例（4.7%）HER2基因扩增。39例浸润性导管癌中30例（76.9%）有HER2基因扩增,12例浸润性小叶癌中仅1例（8.3%）HER2基因扩增。HER2基因扩增在浸润性导管癌的组织学分级间差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）,组织学Ⅲ级的浸润性导管癌较Ⅰ、Ⅱ级有较高的HER2基因扩增率。HER2基因扩增与ER、PR阴性状态及腋淋巴结转移有显著相关性（P<0.01）,与患者是否绝经无相关性（P>0.05）。结论 浸润性小叶癌,ER、PR阳性以及组织学Ⅰ级的浸润性导管癌常少有HER2基因扩增;对于组织学Ⅲ的浸润性导管癌,同时ER、PR阴性者尽管IHC检测结果为阴性,仍需做FISH检测以明确是否有HER2基因扩增。     

Combined Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor Level Can Predict Survival Outcome in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-positive Early Breast Cancer

BackgroundIn human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, emerging evidence imply that clinical behaviors differ according to hormone receptor (HR) status. However, there is no conclusion about the relevance between estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) expression and clinical outcome of HER2+ breast cancer. Our study aimed to determine the influence of different ER/PR levels on survival outcome of HER2+ early breast cancer.Patients and MethodsNine hundred and nineteen early HER2+ breast cancer patients treated between 2009 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and HR+/HER2+ patients were further divided based on ER level (Low/L: 1%-9%; Median/M: 10%-79%; High/H: 80%-100%) and PR level (Low/L: 0%-19%; High/H: 20%-100%) according to restricted cubic spline (RCS) smoothing curve. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan–Meier method and log rank test.ResultsFour hundred and forty two HR+/HER2+ and 477 HR-/HER2+ breast cancer patients were included in our study and 73.2% received target therapy (HR+ 69.7%, HR- 76.5%). While HR+/HER2+ breast cancer showed better survival than HR-/HER2+ subtype in 5-year disease free survival (DFS, 93.0% vs. 86.8%, P < .001), no significant difference was observed between DFS in ER+/PR+ and ER+/PR- subgroup (94.4% vs. 90.4%, P = .22). However, a potential correlation was found between ER/PR levels and DFS in HR+/HER2+ (P = .074) tumors. In HR+/HER2+ breast cancer, all subgroups showed DFS improvement trend versus M-ER/L-PR. In all HER2+ patients, hazard ratio of H-ER/H-PR compared with HR- subtype was 0.10 (95%CI 0.01-0.74, P = .024) in all patients and 0.14 (95%CI, 0.02-1.02, P = .053) in patients receiving anti-HER2 therapy.ConclusionER/PR expression may become a predictor of survival benefit in HER2+ early breast cancer and a higher ER/PR level might be associated with better DFS.     

Breast Cancer With Brain Metastases: Clinicopathologic Features,Survival, and Paired Biomarker Analysis

Background.

The aim of this study was to describe clinicopathologic features of patients with breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM); to evaluate survival after diagnosis of BCBM; and to compare estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression in the paired primary and brain tumors.

Materials and Methods.

We identified 140 consecutive patients who underwent craniotomy for BCBM (either for diagnostic purpose or with therapeutic intent) at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2002 and 2009.

Results.

Most patients had invasive ductal histology (91%), grade 3 tumors (67%), and positive axillary lymph node (64%). Of the tumors, 56% were ER-negative, 62% were PR-negative, 44% were HER2-positive, and 28% were triple negative (TN). Brain metastasis (BM) was solitary in 51% of patients. Median interval from breast cancer diagnosis to BM was 46 months; median survival after BM was 14.1 months. In the univariate analysis, younger age, solitary brain metastasis, and ER or PR positivity in the breast tumors were associated with longer survival. There was a statistical trend toward increased survival in HER2-positive patients compared with HER2-negative patients (18 vs. 11 months). In the multivariate analysis, predictors for longer survival included younger age, solitary brain lesion, and HER2 positivity in the breast cancer. Biomarkers were evaluated in paired primary and brain tumors in 35 patients for ER status, 34 for PR status, and 36 for HER2 status. Discordant rates were 28% for ER, 20% for PR, and 3% for HER2.

Conclusion.

Compared with unselected breast cancer patients at the same institution, patients with breast cancer who had brain metastases had a higher proportion of hormone receptor-negative, HER2-positive, and TN tumors. Younger age, solitary brain lesion, and HER2 expression were independent predictors of better survival in patients with BCBM. HER2 status was highly concordant between the paired primary and brain tumors, whereas changes of ER and PR status occurred in a substantial proportion of the patients. These findings are important for making effective treatment decisions for patients with BCBM.     

The Case to Case Comparison of Hormone Receptors and HER2 Status between Primary Breast Cancer and Synchronous Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis

Background: Nowadays, the adjuvant treatment for breast cancer patients chosen depends on immunohistochemical pattern of Estrogen receptor(ER), Progesterone receptor(PR) and HER2 status of primary breast tumor. Several retrospective studies showed significant discordance in receptor expression between primary and metastatic tumors. The objective of this research was to determine discordant rate of ER, PR and HER2 status between primary breast cancer and synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis of individual breast cancer patients in Thammasat University Hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study of all breast cancer patients who have axillary metastasis and underwent surgery at Thammasat Hospital between January 2011 to December 2015. Tumor staging, ER, PR, and HER2 status on primary breast tumor were recorded. Synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis was evaluated with immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, and HER2. Results: The ER-positive rate from primary tumor to synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis decreased from 74.7% to 71.7%; the HER2 overexpression rate was decreased from 26% to 24%. In contrast, PR positive rate were 71% in both primary tumor and synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis. In case to case comparison, discordance rate of ER, PR and HER2 status between primary breast cancer and synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis were 11.1%, 20.2% and 10.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the tumor staging was not significant associated with discordance of ER, PR and HER2. Conclusion: ER, PR and HER 2 biomarkers showed significant concordance between primary tumor and synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis. Hence, if we cannot assess the ER, PR and HER2 status in primary tumor, then synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis can be studied instead. However, the repeat of biomarker testing in node-positive breast cancer patients may be beneficial for tailored adjuvant therapy, especially for patients with negative hormone receptor and/or HER2 profile on primary tumor.     

Clonal alteration of breast cancer receptors between primary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and corresponding local events

BackgroundEmerging data propose biomarker alteration due to clonal selection between the primary invasive breast cancer and corresponding metastases. In addition, impact on survival has been demonstrated. The present study investigates the relationship between the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) between primary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and intra-individually matched ipsilateral event.Materials and methodsThe cohort includes 1504 patients, diagnosed with a primary DCIS between 1986 and 2004. Of the 274 patients who developed a local relapse, 135 developed a new in situ carcinoma and 139 an invasive cancer up to 31st December 2011. ER and PR were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HER2 by silver-enhanced in situ hybridisation (SISH) as well as IHC.ResultsER (n = 112), PR (n = 113) and HER2 (n = 114) status from both the primary DCIS and the corresponding relapse were assessed and were demonstrated to be discordant in 15.1%, 29.2% and 10.5% respectively. The receptor conversion was both from negative to positive and from positive to negative with no general pattern being seen in spite of sub-dividing into in situ relapse and invasive relapse. However, primary DCIS was HER2 positive in 40.3% whereas in situ and invasive relapses were HER2 positive in 42.9% and 34.5% respectively.ConclusionsReceptor conversion for ER, PR and HER2 status occurred between primary DCIS and corresponding local relapse in 10–30%. This study could not confirm that HER2 overexpression in primary DCIS had any impact on tumour progression to invasive cancer which has been proposed.     

Receptor conversion in distant breast cancer metastases

Introduction

When breast cancer patients develop distant metastases, the choice of systemic treatment is usually based on tissue characteristics of the primary tumor as determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or molecular analysis. Several previous studies have shown that the immunophenotype of distant breast cancer metastases may be different from that of the primary tumor (receptor conversion), leading to inappropriate choice of systemic treatment. The studies published so far are however small and/or methodologically suboptimal. Therefore, definite conclusions that may change clinical practice could not yet be drawn. We therefore aimed to study receptor conversion for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in a large group of distant (non-bone) breast cancer metastases by re-staining all primary tumors and metastases with current optimal immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization methods on full sections.

Methods

A total of 233 distant breast cancer metastases from different sites (76 skin, 63 liver, 43 lung, 44 brain and 7 gastro-intestinal) were IHC stained for ERα, PR and HER2, and expression was compared to that of the primary tumor. HER2 in situ hybridization (ISH) was done in cases of IHC conversion or when primary tumors or metastases showed an IHC 2+ result.

Results

Using a 10% threshold, receptor conversion by IHC for ERα, PR occurred in 10.3%, 30.0% of patients, respectively. In 10.7% of patients, conversion from ER+ or PR+ to ER-/PR- and in 3.4% from ER-/PR- to ER+ or PR+ was found. Using a 1% threshold, ERα and PR conversion rates were 15.1% and 32.6%. In 12.4% of patients conversion from ER+ or PR+ to ER-/PR-, and 8.2% from ER-/PR- to ER+ or PR+ occurred. HER2 conversion occurred in 5.2%. Of the 12 cases that showed HER2 conversion by IHC, 5 showed also conversion by ISH. One further case showed conversion by ISH, but not by IHC. Conversion was mainly from positive in the primary tumor to negative in the metastases for ERα and PR, while HER2 conversion occurred equally both ways. PR conversion occurred significantly more often in liver, brain and gastro-intestinal metastases.

Conclusions

Receptor conversion by immunohistochemistry in (non-bone) distant breast cancer metastases does occur, is relatively uncommon for ERα and HER2, and is more frequent for PR, especially in brain, liver and gastro-intestinal metastases.     

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.     

Identification of Luminal Subtypes of Breast Carcinoma Using Surrogate Immunohistochemical Markers and Ascertaining Their Prognostic Relevance

BackgroundTherapeutic decisions in breast carcinoma are being made on the basis of tumor cell proliferation using exorbitant genomic tests. The 2013 St Gallen meeting advocated surrogate definitions for classifying tumors into luminal subtypes on the basis of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers. We studied the classification of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors using these definitions as well as different methods for Ki-67 labeling index (LI) estimation.Patients and MethodsA total of 541 ER⁺ invasive breast carcinoma cases from January 2012 to December 2012 were evaluated for Ki-67 LI by the average and hot spot methods. The IHC results of ER, PR, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) were noted. HER2 IHC equivocal (2+) samples were subjected to HER2 fluorescence in-situ hybridization testing. Luminal subgroups created on the basis of the 2013 St Gallen meeting guidelines were correlated with clinicopathologic variables and disease-free survival.ResultsThe distribution of luminal subtypes was as follows: luminal A–like, 13.3%; luminal B–like (HER2⁻), 57.9%; and luminal B–like (HER2⁺), 28.8%. Approximately 6% of cases were recategorized into different subgroups when the average method was used instead of the hot spot method for Ki-67 LI assessment. Younger patients (≤ 50 years), grade 3 tumors, positive axillary nodes, recurrence, and distant metastasis had a positive statistical correlation with luminal B–like (HER2⁻) subtype. Patients with luminal B–like (HER2⁻) tumors had a shorter disease-free survival compared to patients with luminal A–like tumors.ConclusionKi-67 LI, irrespective of the method of assessment, along with PR, can be efficiently used to divide ER⁺ tumors into prognostic subgroups in Indian patients.     

Breast cancer-specific survival by clinical subtype after 7 years follow-up of young and elderly women in a nationwide cohort

Age and tumor subtype are prognostic factors for breast cancer survival, but it is unclear which matters the most. We used population-based data to address this question. We identified 21,384 women diagnosed with breast cancer at ages 20–89 between 2005 and 2015 in the Cancer Registry of Norway. Subtype was defined using estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) status as luminal A-like (ER+PR+HER2-), luminal B-like HER2-negative (ER+PR-HER2-), luminal B-like HER2-positive (ER+PR+/-HER2+), HER2-positive (ER-PR-HER2+) and triple-negative (TNBC) (ER-PR-HER2-). Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HR) for breast cancer-specific 7-year survival by age and subtype, while adjusting for year, grade, TNM stage and treatment. Young women more often had HER2-positive and TNBC tumors, while elderly women (70–89) more often had luminal A-like tumors. Compared to age 50–59, young women had doubled breast cancer-specific mortality rate (HR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.81–2.82), while elderly had two to five times higher mortality rate (70–79: HR = 2.25, 1.87–2.71; 80–89: HR = 5.19, 4.21–6.41). After adjustments, the association was non-significant among young women but remained high among elderly. Young age was associated with increased breast cancer-specific mortality among luminal A-like subtype, while old age was associated with increased mortality in all subtypes. Age and subtype were strong independent prognostic factors. The elderly always did worse, also after adjustment for subtype. Tumor-associated factors (subtype, grade and stage) largely explained the higher breast cancer-specific mortality among young. Future studies should address why luminal A-like subtype is associated with a higher mortality rate in young women.     

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。     

Influence of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on HER2/neu Status in Invasive Breast Cancer

IntroductionReliably estimating HER2/neu expression in breast cancer is important for predicting patient prognosis and optimizing adjuvant therapeutic strategies. In this retrospective cohort study, effects of NAC on HER2/neu status in invasive breast cancer were evaluated, and the related factors were analyzed.Patients and MethodsOne hundred thirty-one patients with primary breast cancer were treated with anthracycline- and/or taxane-based NAC. HER2/neu status was evaluated by IHC on core needle biopsies of primary tumors before NAC and surgical resection specimens of post-NAC residual breast cancers or tumor-positive axillary lymph nodes. Thirty-two pairs of specimens with discordant HER2/neu IHC scores were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).ResultsA significant difference in HER2/neu status by IHC between core needle biopsies and surgical resection specimens in patients receiving NAC was observed. After NAC, 23.4% (29 of 124) of tumors showed downregulated HER2/neu expression by IHC. Alterations of HER2/neu IHC scores did not significantly correlate with tumor subtype, pathologic response to NAC, adjuvant regimen, or time interval from the last chemotherapy to surgery. HER2/neu protein overexpression level was associated with favorable pathologic response to anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy. However, tumors with altered HER2/neu IHC scores after NAC revealed stable HER2/neu gene amplification/nonamplification by FISH analysis.ConclusionNeoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma resulted in the HER2/neu status alteration by IHC, but they have stable gene amplification status by FISH. HER2/neu protein overexpression indicated greater sensitivity to neoadjuvant anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy. Thus, retesting HER2/neu IHC status in residual tumors after NAC should be considered in order to optimize adjuvant systemic therapy.