CORRELATIONSHIP OF HORMONE RECEPTOR STATUS, p53 MUTATION AND c-erb B-2 OVEREXPRESSION WITH NUCLEAR GRADING IN BREAST CANCERS.

Thirty cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast were studied for the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status; p 53 protein mutation and c-erb B2 overexpression. The results were correlated with the morphological differentiation, as determined by the Nottingham's modification of the Bloom-Richardson system. Hormone receptor positivity was seen in 46.67% cases, whereas p 53 mutation and c-erb B2 overexpression were seen in 50.00% and 60.00% cases respectively. In grade II tumours receptor positivity, p53 mutation and c-erb B-2 overexpression were 57.15%, 42.85% and 52.38% respectively. The corresponding figures for grade III tumours were 33.33%, 83.33% and 66.67% respectively. As grade 1 comprised only 3 cases no statistical correlation could be observed. Thus we conclude that receptor positivity declined, whereas p 53 mutation and c-erb B-2 overexpression increased, with increase in tumour grade.