Cancer biomarker HER-2/neu in breast cancer in Indian women

• Published in: Breast cancer targets and therapy Vol. 3; no. default; pp. 21 - 26
• Main Authors: Singhai, Rajeev, Patil, Amit V, Patil, Vinayak W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.01.2011; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: breast cancer; hormone receptor; Original Research; PgR; serum HER-2/neu receptor assay; breast cancer; PgR; hormone receptor; serum HER-2/neu receptor assay; ER
• ISSN: 1179-1314; 1179-1314
• DOI: 10.2147/BCTT.S17108

In Indian women with breast cancer, the HER-2/neu gene is amplified in 30% of cases. Elevated serum HER-2/neu levels have been shown to be associated with a poor clinical prognosis and decreased survival in early stage breast cancer patients, and testing for this may help to manage the disease. The present study was therefore to estimate serum HER-2/neu levels in breast cancer patients and associate these with other prognostic factors. Serum HER-2/neu levels were studied in 207 patients with breast cancer, 15 with benign breast diseases, (BBD) and 175 age-matched healthy controls. Patients' age, menopausal status, node, and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) status were compared with serum HER-2/neu levels. Serum HER-2/neu overexpression was associated with age, disease stage and positive nodal status but not with menopausal status. Serum HER-2/neu levels were negatively correlated with hormone receptor positivity. HER-2/neu serum tests should be done more frequently in Indian women with breast cancer, irrespective of their ER and PgR hormone receptor status. ELISA is a reliable and economical tool to assess the HER-2/neu status in tumors, when breast tissue samples are not available.