engleski

HER-2/NEU AND OTHER PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

INTRODUCTION: HER-2/neu (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2)-positive breast cancer, which usually accounts for approximately 25% of cases, has a significantly worse prognosis than HER-2/neu-negative breast cancer, with an increased risk of recurrence and more aggressive disease course. Selection of patients with strongly HER-2/neu-positive tumors is recommended because of the clinical benefit from the HER-2/neu-targeted therapy trastuzumab (Herceptin® ) in metastatic breast cancer patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic features (age of the patients, histological grade of the tumors, pTNM and hormone receptor status) in patients with breast cancer considering HER-2/neu status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 266 patients from the period between 2000-2004 were tested on estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and HER-2/neu status that were determinated using standard imunohistocemistry tests (DAKO, Copenhagen, Denmark, donated by La Roche Ltd.). We tested all of our patients regardless of the spread of the disease and divided them into two groups according to HER-2/neu overexpression (HER-2/neu-0, 1 negative, and HER-2/neu-2, 3 positive). RESULTS: We found 219 (82.3%) of HER-2/neu-negative cases and 47 (17.7%) of HER-2/neu positive cases. The results show positive association between HER-2/neu expression and grade of tumors. Negative association was found between HER-2/neu and steroid receptors and average age of patients. T and N tumor status was also found to be in negative correlation with HER-2/neu status, which is the only prognostic factor that is not corresponding to the results of multicentric study made by Croatian authors last year. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of HER-2/neu status combined with other prognostic markers improves predictive prognosis and should help to treat patients, but its real value must be confirmed by further studies.

Breast cancer; Prognostic factors; HER-2/NEU

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