Clinicopathologic significance of molecular classification of breast cancer : relation to Nottingham prognosis index

Abstract EN

Purpose : the aim of this work is to determine the possible relationship between the different profiles of molecular expression of hormone receptors and Her-2 / neu receptors to clinical and histopathologically known prognostic variables for breast cancer.

Material and Methods : A total of 110 breast carcinoma tumor samples were included.

In this study 4 groups or immunohistochemical profiles were defined, based on expression of hormone receptors (estrogen and / or progesterone) and / or Her2 / neu (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER) overexpressing profile, and triple-negative profile).

We studied whether there were differences between them regarding clinical and histopathologically variables with a known prognostic significance in addition to Nottingham Prognosis Index (NPI).

Results : in this series, 65 cases corresponded to Luminal A (59.1 %), 18 cases (16.4 %) were Luminal B, in 14 cases (12.7 %) HER2 was over-expressed, while 13 cases (11.8 %) were of the triple negative subtype.

It is worth noting the relationship between the triple negative and HER2 over-expressing immunophenotypes and the high NPI (>3.4) in comparison with the Luminal A and Luminal B immunophenotypes (p = 029).

The association of the former two types with higher tumor grade was also observed, but such association did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion : the subgroups without hormone receptor expression, with Her2 / neu overexpression or without (triple-negative group), have characteristics associated with variables of a poorer prognosis.