Correlation between ER, PR, HER-2, Bcl-2, p53, proliferative and apoptotic indexes with HER-2 gene amplification and TOP2A gene amplification and deletion in four molecular subtypes of breast cancer

Target Oncol. 2014 Dec;9(4):367-79. doi: 10.1007/s11523-013-0297-2. Epub 2013 Nov 24.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate HER-2 and TOP2A gene status and their correlation with Bcl-2, p53, Ki67, ssDNA, and clinicopathological parameters in four molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Seventy-four paraffin-embedded samples are immunohistochemically studied for the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2, p53, Bcl-2, ssDNA, and Ki67, while HER-2 and TOP2A gene status by fluorescence in situ hybridization was investigated in 60 samples. Luminal A and B subtypes were characterized with small tumor size, intermediate histological grade, negative lymph node, and metastatic status, while triple negative and HER-2 positive subtypes were associated with larger tumor size, poorly differentiated tumors, and positive lymph node status. p53, Ki67, and ssDNA expression was higher in triple negative and HER-2 positive than in luminal subtypes, while ER, PR, and Bcl-2 dominated in luminal subtypes. HER-2 gene status was higher in luminal B and HER-2 positive than in luminal A and triple negative subtypes, while TOP2A gene status was similar. HER-2 gene status positively correlated with TOP2A gene status, HER-2 receptor, and histological grade, while negative correlation characterized relationship between HER-2 gene status and ER, PR, and Bcl-2. The shortened overall survival period characterized patients from triple negative breast cancer subtype (18.7 months). HER-2 and TOP2A gene amplification showed a tendency to be associated with larger tumor size, positive lymph node status, high level of apoptotic and proliferative indexes, and low level of p53 and Bcl-2 expression, which all together indicate group of patients with similar outcome during the progression of the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Disease Progression
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BCL2 protein, human
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II
  • TOP2A protein, human