ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: 1) To determine the profile of estrogen and, progesterone receptors (ER, PR) expression and Her/2neu amplification in carcinoma of breast of Sri Lankan women. 2) To determine their inter-relationships, and associations with age at diagnosis and histological grade. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data. SETTING: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. MATERIALS: 124 samples of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast, stained for steroid receptors and Her/2neu amplification with immunohistochemistry. MEASUREMENTS: 1) Semiquantative scores of steroid receptors and Her/2neu amplification. 2) Correlations of ER, PR, Her/2neu amplification, age at diagnosis and histological grade. RESULTS: The prevalence of ER, PR and Her/2neu amplification were 53.2%, 50% and 14.6% respectively. The expression of ER and PR were significantly correlated (p < 0.001). and had a significant negative correlation with Her/2neu amplification (p0.003 each). Lower grade of the tumour was significantly related to the expression of ER (p0.000) and PR (p0.000) but not to Her/2neu amplification (p0.331). Age at diagnosis was significantly correlated to the expression of ER (p0.004), but not to PR (p0.365) or Her/2neu amplification (p0.456). CONCLUSION: Prevalence or ER, PR and Her/2neu amplification in carcinoma of breast among Sri Lankans is similar to that described internationally. The correlations of ER, PR, Her/2neu amplification, to each other, age at diagnosis and grade of tumour is as reported in other countries.