Her-2/neu overexpression in breast cancers in patients of West African extraction seen in Lagos state University Teaching hospital, Nigeria

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2019 Nov;45(11):2022-2025. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2019.06.037. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Abstract

Introduction: Her-2/neu is one of the most important molecular markers of breast cancer. Overexpression of Her-2/neu as evaluated by immunohistochemistry is necessary in the management of breast cancers. This study was performed to determine the proportion of expression of the biomarker amongst breast cancer patients who presented in our 'one-stop breast cancer unit' using automated immunohistochemistry.

Materials and methods: Automated immunohistochemical analysis of 107 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients was done for expression of Her-2/neu, between 1st April, 2016 and 30th September, 2018. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 for windows and Microsoft excel, 2013.

Results: Her-2/neu was overexpressed in 30.1% patients, and it shows no correlation with age and histological grade of the disease.

Conclusion: There is overexpression of Her-2/neu in our local setting, and this observation is very relevant to any therapeutic decisions and management of these patients.

Keywords: Age; Breast cancer; Her-2/neu overexpression; Histological grade.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Africa, Western
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biopsy, Large-Core Needle
  • Black People*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology
  • Female
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Nigeria
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2