Choccalingam Chidambharam, Rao Lakshmi, Rao Sruti
Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
Breast Cancer (Auckl). 2012;6:21-9. doi: 10.4137/BCBCR.S8611. Epub 2012 Jan 9.
Aims of the study were to evaluate the expression Cytokeratin 5/6(CK5/6) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) among triple negative breast cancers and high grade infiltrating duct carcinomas. Further to probe if triple negative phenotype can be a surrogate marker for basal phenotype and to correlate the expression of basal markers with disease free survivals among triple negative phenotype and high grade infiltrating duct carcinomas.
Expression of CK5/6 and EGFR were studied by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 31 triple negative and 19 non-triple negative high grade breast carcinomas.
21 of the 31 triple negative phenotype (67.7%) breast carcinomas and 7 out of 19 non-triple negative (36.8%) breast carcinomas showed expression of basal markers (CK5/6 and/or over-expression of EGFR). There were statistically significant associations of all the basal-like tumors with negative hormonal status. The basal markers positive phenotype subjects had a shorter disease free interval as compared to basal markers negative phenotype subjects.
Basal-like breast carcinomas constitute a unique clinical and pathological entity, characterized by high tumor grade and a propensity for lack of ER, PR and HER2 expression. Basal phenotypes have a more aggressive course than non-basal phenotype. "Triple negative" status cannot be used as a surrogate for "basal marker expression".
本研究的目的是评估三阴性乳腺癌和高级别浸润性导管癌中细胞角蛋白5/6（CK5/6）和表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）的表达。进一步探究三阴性表型是否可作为基底表型的替代标志物，并将基底标志物的表达与三阴性表型和高级别浸润性导管癌的无病生存率相关联。
通过免疫组织化学（IHC）研究31例三阴性和19例非三阴性高级别乳腺癌中CK5/6和EGFR的表达。
31例三阴性表型乳腺癌中有21例（67.7%），19例非三阴性乳腺癌中有7例（36.8%）显示基底标志物（CK5/6和/或EGFR过表达）表达。所有基底样肿瘤与激素阴性状态之间存在统计学显著关联。与基底标志物阴性表型受试者相比，基底标志物阳性表型受试者的无病间隔更短。
基底样乳腺癌构成一种独特的临床和病理实体，其特征为肿瘤级别高且倾向于缺乏雌激素受体（ER）、孕激素受体（PR）和人表皮生长因子受体2（HER2）表达。基底表型的病程比非基底表型更具侵袭性。“三阴性”状态不能用作“基底标志物表达”的替代指标。
