c-erbB-2 and common prognostic factors in breast cancer patients

We report data on c-erbB-2, hormone receptors, and Ki-67 proliferation associated antigen in ninety-seven unselected breast carcinoma specimens. Immunohistochemical results and clinical data (age, axillary nodal involvement, menopausal status, tumor size) were compared. Positivity for c-erbB-2 staining was detected in the 46% of tumors. There was no correlation among c-erbB-2 status and age, menopausal status, tumor size, lymph nodes involvement or Ki-67 index. An inverse relationship of c-erbB-2 and estrogen and progesterone receptor status was detected, although not statistically significant. Increased levels of c-erbB-2 were observed in 40-50% of all the subsets of patients grouped on the basis of established prognostic factors. These higher levels could lead to the identification of further subsets of patients at higher risk of relapse. However, at present, the role of c-erbB-2 for clinical management of patients with breast cancer remains unclear.