An analysis of predictive biomarkers in routine histopathological reporting of infi ltrating ductal breast carcinoma in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia with a focus on limitations and directions for future development
- Author:
Kean-Hooi TEOH
;
Lai-Meng LOOI
;
Subathra SABARATNAM
;
Phaik-Leng CHEAH
;
Abdul Rahman NAZARINA
;
Kein-Seong MUN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
breast cancer, oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2011;33(1):35-42
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Predictive biomarkers such as oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors and c-erbB-2
oncoprotein have become a staple in breast cancer reports in the country as they increasingly
play an important role in the treatment and prognosis of women with breast cancers. This study
reviews the practice of histopathology reporting of these biomarkers in a Malaysian tertiary hospital
setting. Retrospective data on demographic, pathological and biomarker profi les of patients with
invasive ductal carcinoma who had undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy with axillary node
clearance from 2005 to 2006 were retrieved from the Department of Pathology, Penang Hospital
and analysed. The prevalence of ER positivity (55.8%), PR positivity (52.5%), c-erbB-2 oncoprotein
overexpression (24%) and triple negativity (ER negative, PR negative, c-erbB-2 negative) (15%)
by immunohistochemistry were comparable with other studies. Notably, c-erbB-2 overexpression
was equivocal (2+) in 15% of cases. Since about a quarter of equivocal (2+) cases usually show
amplifi cation by FISH, a small but certain percentage of patients would miss the benefi t of anti-cerbB-
2 antibody therapy if FISH is not performed. New ASCO/CAP guidelines on the quantitation
of ER and PR will probably increase the prevalence of ER/PR positivity, invariably leading to
signifi cant ramifi cations on the management of patients as more patients would be deemed eligible
for endocrine therapy, as well as categorisation of triple negative breast cancers.
- Full text:W020151209496873285555.pdf
