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c-erbB-2 amplification in mammary carcinoma
1Imperial Cancer Research Fund Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. Supplement
|January 1, 1993
Summary
The c-erbB-2 oncogene is linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer. Its protein expression, detectable via immunohistochemistry, is more common in ductal carcinoma in situ than invasive types.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- The c-erbB-2 oncogene is a key factor in mammary carcinoma research, with amplification linked to poor prognosis since 1987.
- While gene amplification often correlates with protein overexpression, transcriptional increases can also drive elevated mRNA and protein levels.
- c-erbB-2 protein's stability during histopathological fixation makes it a reliable marker for immunohistochemical analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and significance of c-erbB-2 protein expression in various mammary carcinoma subtypes.
- To explore the relationship between c-erbB-2 expression and tumor grade, particularly in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
- To assess the potential of c-erbB-2 expression as a predictive marker for treatment response in breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of c-erbB-2 protein expression on archival histopathological specimens.
- Correlation of c-erbB-2 positivity with clinicopathological features, including tumor type (DCIS vs. invasive carcinoma) and grade.
- Review of existing literature on c-erbB-2 gene amplification, transcription, and its association with treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- c-erbB-2 positivity is significantly higher in DCIS compared to infiltrating mammary carcinomas.
- A strong association exists between high-grade (comedo type) DCIS and elevated c-erbB-2 protein expression.
- Paget's disease of the nipple shows a high incidence of c-erbB-2 positivity, often linked to high-grade DCIS.
- Lower rates of c-erbB-2 positivity were observed in high-grade invasive carcinomas, differentiating them from DCIS.
- c-erbB-2 expression has been implicated in predicting resistance to chemotherapy and endocrine therapy.
Conclusions:
- c-erbB-2 protein expression serves as a valuable indicator of abnormalities within the c-erbB-2 gene in breast cancer.
- The differential expression of c-erbB-2 in DCIS versus invasive carcinoma suggests a role in biological classification.
- c-erbB-2 positivity may predict a lack of response to standard breast cancer treatments, warranting further investigation.