Relationship between c-erbB-2 expression and clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer

Objective To observe the expression of c-erbB-2 and its relationships with clinicopathological parameters including estrogen receptor(ER),progestogen receptor(PR),axillary lymph node metastasis,tumor size and pathological type.Methods We collected data from the 912 primary breast cancer cases who had not undergone adjuvant therapy.The expression of c-erbB-2 was measured by immunohistochemistry(IHC).Then we analyzed the correlation of c-erbB-2 expression with age,tumor size,clinical staging,tumor site,menopause status,axillary lymph node,ER,PR and pathological classification as well as the connection between c-erbB-2 expression and prognosis in using follow-up data.Results The total positive rate of c-erbB-2 was 23.0%.There were significant differences in c-erbB-2 expression among different age groups(P=0.009),especially between those under 35 years old and those above 55 years old(P=0.006);tumor diameter 2cm,2-5cm and 5cm groups(P0.01),with the positive rate increased with tumor diameter;axillary lymph node metastasis(0),(1-3),(3) groups,the last one higher than the other two.The positive expression rate of c-erbB-2 was significantly higher in ER and PR positive groups than in ER and PR negative groups(P0.05).The positive expression rate of c-erbB-2 was significantly higher in TMN stage Ⅲ group than in the other two groups(P0.05).However,no significant differences were found in pathological classification,menopause status or tumor site groups(P0.05).As for prognosis,the disease-free survival in c-erbB-2(+) group was shortly that in c-erbB-2(-) group.Conclusion The overexpression of c-erbB-2 is positively correlated with tumor size,axillay lymphatic metastasis and clinical staging but negatively correlated with age,ER and PR.It is not correlated with menopause status,tumor site or pathological classification.c-erbB-2 can be used as an independent indicator for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.