Expression of EGFR and c-kit is associated with the basal-like phenotype in breast carcinomas of African women

• Published in: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica Vol. 116; no. 6; pp. 515 - 525
• Main Author: NALWOGA, HAWA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; breast carcinoma; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; c-kit; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - pathology; EGFR; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - metabolism; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Retrospective Studies; Tumors; Uganda; Uganda; Africa; Human; Breast disease; Microbiology; c-kit; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor; EGFR; Mammary gland diseases; Breast carcinoma; Phenotype; Immunology; C-Onc gene; Female; Uganda; Cancer
• ISSN: 0903-4641; 1600-0463
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2008.01024.x

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-kit are tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors which are frequently expressed in basal-like breast carcinomas, and tyrosine kinase inhibition is now a promising strategy in treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of EGFR and c-kit in breast cancer with special focus on the basal-like phenotype (BLP) and other prognostic factors in an African population. We analyzed 65 archival tissues immunohistologically. EGFR and/or c-kit were expressed in 55% of basal-like tumors. Expression of EGFR and/or c-kit was strongly associated with high histologic grade (P=0.001), high nuclear grade (P=0.017), high mitotic counts (P=0.002), ER negativity (P=0.003), PR negativity (P=0.007), and HER2 negativity (P=0.014). EGFR and/or c-kit positive tumors were more likely to express the BLP (OR 9.1, CI 2.6-32.0, P<0.0005) than the negative tumors. In conclusion, there is a high expression of EGFR and/or c-kit in basal-like breast carcinoma in this series from Uganda and their expression is associated with features of poor prognosis. More studies are required to assess the clinical significance of EGFR and c-kit in breast cancer patients in Uganda.