Breast Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma: Analysis of Hormone, HER-2 Receptors and Ki-67 Proliferation Marker

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse breast carcinomas with discordant receptor status, probably hormonal dependent (estrogen receptor (ER) positive, progesterone receptor (PR) negative or ER-PR+ subgroup profile) infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas not otherwise specified (IDC NOS). Specimens from 90 IDC NOS were grouped into three categories according to hormonal status: dependent (D) (ER+PR+), probably dependent (PD) (ER+PR- or ER-PR+) and non-dependent (ND) (ER-PR-); they were evaluated considering some established prognostic parameters in breast carcinomas. Statistically significant difference was found between tumor receptor status distribution and menopausal status (p= 0.0235), age of the patients (p=0.000467), histological grade (p=0.000003), vascular invasion (p=0.006), HER-2 status (p=0.0039) and Ki-67 proliferation rate (p=0.000311). D tumors were found exclusively in post-menopausal patients (average age 68.9 years), most of which had intermediate (II) grade, without vascular invasion, with HER-2 status score predominantly 0 or 1+ and lower Ki-67 proliferation rate. PD tumors were found predominantly in younger post-menopausal patients (average age 57.5 years), with vascular invasion found in 23% of the cases. ND tumors mostly had higher histological grade, showed the highest percentage of the Ki-67 positive tumor cells and vascular invasion in 30% of the cases. We conclude that the patients with PD breast carcinomas were younger post-menopausal women with the tumors moderately differentiated, HER-2 score 0 or 1+ and with lower Ki-67 proliferation rate