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Updated: Jun 7, 2026
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
[Different influence of Her-2 expression on the prognosis in node-positive and node-negative breast cancer]
Yan Wang1, Lu Yao, Yi-qang Liu
1Breast Center, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Objective:
To investigate the prognostic significance of Her-2 expression in node-positive and node-negative breast cancer in Chinese women.
Methods:
The Her-2 expression in breast cancers from 981 patients was detected by immunohistochemistry with anti-Her-2 (CB11) monoclonal antibody. The survival curves were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model was applied to determine whether this factor is an independent predictor of survival in multivariate analysis.
Results:
Nineteen point seven percent of the patients showed positive Her-2 expression in their tumors. Patients with Her-2-positive tumors tended to be younger. The high level Her-2 expression was significantly associated with negative estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status in their tumors (P < 0.05). Among 387 patients with node-positive disease, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate were significantly lower in patients with Her-2-positive tumors than in patients with Her-2-negative tumors (DFS: 48.8% vs. 66.9%, P = 0.009; OS: 55.2% vs. 76.4%, P = 0.001), and Her-2 expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for OS, but not for DFS in patients with node-positive disease. Among 591 patients with node-negative disease, Her-2 expression was not significantly associated with DFS and OS (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Her-2 expression is an important prognostic factor in patients with node-positive disease, but not for patients with node-negative disease in Chinese women.