ErbB-2 oncoprotein overexpression in breast carcinoma : inverse correlation with biochemically- and immunohistochemically-determined hormone receptors

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 201 - 210
• Main Author: KESHGEGIAN, A. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-08-1995
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aneuploidy; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Receptor, ErbB-2 - biosynthesis; Receptor, ErbB-2 - genetics; Receptors, Estrogen - biosynthesis; Receptors, Estrogen - genetics; Receptors, Progesterone - biosynthesis; Receptors, Progesterone - genetics; S Phase; Tumors; Histological grading; Human; Carcinoma; Pathogenesis; Estrogen; Tumoral marker; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Ovarian hormone; Progestagen; Mammary gland diseases; Histopathology; C-Onc gene; Mammary gland; Progesterone; Sex steroid hormone; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00668210

The relationship between erbB-2 oncoprotein overexpression and hormone receptors in breast cancer is controversial. Of 320 infiltrating carcinomas, 75 (23%) showed membranous positivity for erbB-2 protein using CB-11 antibody, with 31 (9.7%) strongly positive. Estrogen and progesterone receptors, determined by both biochemical and immunohistochemical assays, were negative more often in strongly erbB-2 positive tumors, or were positive at lower amounts, than in 56 tumors devoid of CB-11 staining. Strong erbB-2 positivity also correlated with lower patient age, higher histopathologic tumor grade, and higher S phase fraction, but not with tumor size, lymph node involvement, or DNA aneuploidy. Thirty-three lobular carcinomas showed strong erbB-2 positivity as frequently as the overall group (9.1%). Cytoplasmic CB-11 positivity without membrane positivity, thought not to correlate with true erbB-2 positivity, was observed in 189 (59%) tumors with a slight (1-2 +) reaction in 124 (39%) tumors and a moderate-to-strong (3-4 +) reaction in 65 (20%) tumors. Moderate-to-strong cytoplasmic positivity correlated with higher histopathologic grade and negativity for immunohistochemical, but not biochemical, hormone receptors. CB-11 cytoplasmic positivity may have biological significance.