Evaluation of hormone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor‐2 and K i‐67 with core needle biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy effects in breast cancer patients

• Published in: Thoracic cancer Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 64 - 69
• Main Authors: Ge, Wen‐kai, Yang, Ben, Zuo, Wen‐shu, Zheng, Gang, Dai, Ying‐qi, Han, Chao, Yang, Li, Zheng, Mei‐zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2015
• ISSN: 1759-7706; 1759-7714
• DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.12133

Abstract Background We investigated the reliability of core needle biopsy ( CNB ) in evaluating the status of hormone receptor ( HR ), human epidermal growth factor receptor ( HER) ‐2, and K i‐67 status, and the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( NAC ) on the expression of these immunohistochemical markers. Methods Among 177 patients with breast adenocarcinoma, 95 patients underwent NAC and the remaining 82 patients made up the control group. Immunohistochemistry ( IHC ) was used to evaluate the expression status of estrogen receptor ( ER ), progesterone receptor ( PR ), HER ‐2, and K i‐67 in the specimens obtained by surgical excision or CNB . Results I n the control group, the expression of ER , PR , HER ‐2, and K i‐67 was highly consistent between samples from surgical excision or CNB (all r > 0.8, P < 0.05). In the NAC group, the proportions of samples with changes in ER , PR , HER ‐2, and K i‐67 expression were 12.7%, 24.1%, 5.1%, and 38.0%, respectively; the figures in the control group were 2.4%, 4.9%, 2.4%, and 7.3%, respectively, which significantly differed in ER , PR , and K i‐67 ( P < 0.05), but not HER ‐2 ( P > 0.05). In the NAC group, pre‐ and post‐treatment ER + rates did not significantly differ ( P > 0.05), although PR + and high K i‐67 expression rates did significantly differ ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Neither CNB nor surgical excision samples gave highly consistent results in HR , HER ‐2, and K i‐67 status. NAC can alter HR and K i‐67 status in breast adenocarcinoma patients. NAC decreased PR + rate and K i‐67 expression. The mean ER + rate exhibited a decreasing, but insignificant trend after NAC treatment. NAC had no significant effect on HER ‐2 expression.