Her-2/neu oncogene expression in Puerto Rican females with breast cancer

Her-2/neu belongs to the family of tyrosine kinase transmembrane proteins whose overexpression has been associated with a poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. The product of this proto-oncogene is overexpressed in 25-30% of human breast cancer and is the target of selective immunotherapy. Concerned about the ethnic differences on the expression of this oncogene, we have evaluated 143 consecutive specimens of primary breast cancer diagnosed in San Pablo Hospital, Puerto Rico. The specimens were analyzed for Her-2/neu expression using immunohistochemistry assays (Hercept test). We have related the expression of hormone receptor status, percent cells in S phase, DNA ploidy, tumor size, nodal status and menopausal state with the Her2/neu expression. Out of 143 specimens, 28 overexpressed the Her-2/neu (19.6%). Of the Her/2 negative 30/114 (26%) were estrogen receptor negative as compared to 9/27 (33%) (p = 0.464). The degree of aneuploidy was abnormal in 25/104 (24%) in the Her-2/neu negative vs 11/27 (41%) p = 0.083. The percent cell in DNA synthesis was high in 16/77 (21%) in Her-2/neu negative vs 4/15 (27%) p = 0.613. The tumor size was greater than 2 cm in 35/106 (33%) in Her-2/neu negative vs 9/23 (39%) p = 0.575. In the progesterone specimens negative for Her2, 44/114 (39%) were Her2/neu negative vs 15/27 (56%) p = 0.108. No differences were seen regarding menopausal status, age and nuclear grading. A trend favoring abnormal aneuploidy in Her2/neu positive was seen. Nodal involvement was significantly associated with Her2/neu overexpression. (p = 0.037). Although the incidence of Her2 overexpression found in this database was somewhat lower than the one reported in the literature, this might also be due to the small cohort examined or to the technique utilized.