Study on the expression of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in breast cancer primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis

Objective To explore the expression of HR and Her-2 in breast cancer primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis. Methods Four hundred and twenty-eight female patients with unilateral breast cancer combined with axillary lymph node metastasis treated in the Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2011 to January 2016 were selected in this study.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki67 in primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis. Results The positive rates of ER expression were 75.9% (325/428) and 70.3% (301/428) respectively in primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis.The positive rates of PR expression were 61.4% (263/428) and 56.1% (240/428) respectively in primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis.The rates of Her-2 overexpression were 20.1% (86/428) in primary tumor and the positive rate of Her-2 in axillary lymph node metastasis was 22.7%(97/428). The positive rates of Ki67 expression were 45.6%(195/428) and 39.7%(170/428) respectively in primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis.The expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki67 in primary and axillary lymph node metastasis showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). The molecular typing of primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis were not consistent in 31 patients (31/428, 7.24%), including 14 cases of primary tumor Luminal A, 9 cases of Her-2 overexpression in axillary lymph node metastasis and 5 cases of triple negative breast cancer.Primary tumor Luminal B was detected in 10 cases, while 6 cases of Her-2 overexpression in axillary lymph node metastasis and 4 cases of triple negative breast cancer.Primary tumor Her-2 was overexpressed in 4 cases, while 1 case of Luminal A, 3 cases of Luminal B in axillary lymph node metastasis.There were 3 cases of primary tumor triple negative breast cancer, while 2 cases of Luminal B in axillary lymph node metastasis and 1 case of Her-2 overexpression. Conclusion The expressions of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki67 in primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis of some breast cancer were different.Immunohistochemistry for primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis of stage II-III breast cancer patients should be routinely carried out.Based on molecular typing of primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastasis, individualized treatment plan can be developed, so that patients will benefit from it. Key words: Breast Cancer; Primary tumor; Axillary lymph node metastasis; Molecular typing; Estrogen receptor; Progesterone receptor; Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen Ki67