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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
HE4 expression can be associated with lymph node metastases and disease-free survival in breast cancer
Mirei Kamei1, Shin-Ichi Yamashita, Keita Tokuishi
1Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama, Yufu, Oita, 879-5593, Japan.
Background:
This study investigated the potential of HE4 to predict disease-free survival for patients with breast cancer.
Patients And Methods:
One hundred and twenty-nine patients with breast cancer underwent surgery from January 2004 to September 2009. Immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) and RT-PCR were used to determine the expression of HE4 which was compared with the clinicopathological factors or prognosis.
Results:
A total of 71 of 129 cases (55%) were HE4 positive and two cell lines expressed HE4 protein and mRNA. No correlation was found between HE4 expression by IHC and clinicopathological factors; however, lymph node involvement was closely associated with HE4 expression. Five-year disease-free survival in the HE4-positive group (58.6%) was significantly worse than that in the negative group (85.6%, p=0.04).
Conclusion:
These data showed that HE4 expression is associated with lymph node involvement and is a possible predictive factor of breast cancer recurrence.
