Relationship between expressions of ErbB oncogene family and clinicopathologic features in breast cancer

Objective To study the expression of oncogene erbB-1,erbB-2,erbB-3,erbB-4 in breast cancer and its value for prognosis. Methods The protein expression of erbB-1,erbB-2,erbB-3 and erbB-4 in 81 cases of breast cancer were examined by using paraffin-section immunohistochemistry. Results The patients were grouped by histological type,histological grade,lymph node metastasis and postoperative survival period. The difference in the positive rate of erbB-2 and 3 was significant among the histological grade,postoperative survival period and lymph node metastasis,respectively( P 0. 05 or P 0. 01),but not with histology type( P 0. 05); There was no statistical difference in the expression of erbB-1 and 4 among the four groups( P 0. 05); But the expression of erbB-2 compared to erbB-1,3 and 4 was obvious difference( P 0. 05 or P 0. 01). Conclusion The expression of erbB-2 and 3 were closely related to breast cancer growth, proliferation and metastasis,and can be regarded as an independent prognostic indicator; the expression of erbB-1,4 is synergistic in breast cancer growth. To analyze the expression of erbB-1 and 4 is valuable for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.