Hormone Receptor Status in Breast Carcinoma: Correlation with Clinico-Pathological Prognostic Parameters

Breast cancer is common worldwide and has high morbidity and mortality. Most of the patients in India present with palpable lump and sometimes even with lymph node metastasis at the time of presentation. Thus stratification of patients according to nodal status and results of ER, PR and HER2/NEU has assumed a great therapeutic importance. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To study the ER, PR and HER2/NEU status in breast carcinoma. 2. To correlate ER/PR/HER2/NEU status with prognosis of the patients. 3. To correlate the distribution of ER, PR and HER2/NEU status among the different subtypes of breast carcinoma. 4. To correlate the distribution of ER, PR and HER2/NEU status among the different age groups. METHODOLOGY: All patients admitted as Ca breast in Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli. Study period: 2 years. Study design: Prospective study. Study Population: 100 cases. Investigations: FNAC, Tru Cut Biopsy, CT Chest, USG Abdomen and Pelvis. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All patients admitted in Tirunelveli medical college Hospital as breast carcinoma irrespective of age and gender EXCLUSION CRITERIA: All carcinoma breast patients who are terminally ill with life support. METHOD USED: Biopsy samples (either Tru-cut biopsy or post-op mastectomy specimens) were sent to the pathology lab where they were processed and analyzed for the histological subtype of the tumor, its pathological grading and the clearance of resected margins of the tumor. Hormonal receptor assay was done using Immunohistochemistry technique in our college pathology department and results was interpreted. PARAMETERS: Age, Size of Lump, Location of the Lump in the breast, Lymph node involvement, Stage of the tumor, Histological classification of the tumor. RESULTS: In my study a total of 100 female patients with breast cancer in Tirunelveli medical college was studied. The incidence of ER, PR, Her2 neu receptors among them correlating with age, menstrual status, tumor size and location in the breast, histological type, pathological grading and Nottingham prognostic index was evaluated. The most common receptor pattern that was observed was ER, PR +ve Her2neu -ve) 25%, the next most common receptor pattern that was observed was triple positive (ER, PR, Her2neu +ve) 23 %, the next common receptor pattern was triple negative (ER, PR, Her2neu –ve) CONCLUSION: These results were comparable with the previous studies and thus reinforce the usefulness of estimation of the receptor status for treatment purpose in breast carcinoma. the patients with hormone receptor positivity in my study received endocrine therapy with tamoxifen and those with Her2neu positivity received Trastuzumab