Potential role of preoperative chemotherapy in breast cancer

ABSTRACT

This is a retrospective and prospective study carried out in the Department of Eljtelogy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karacnr from October 2000 to October 2002. A total of fifty-breast carcinoma specimens were investigated comprising of forty invasive ductal carcinomas and ten invasive lobular carcinomas. Ki-67 antigen was immunostained on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue and the positivity index in tumors of various sizes was determined. Thirty-three cases showed positive nuclear staining. Group-I contained tumors equal to or less than 2 cm in size. In ILC, 0.3 out of 08 cases and in IDC 07 out of 25 cases, showed a mean Ki-67 index of 13.9 +/- 0.4% and 15.65 +/- 11.65%, respectively. Group-II contained tumors between 2.1-5cm in size. In ILC, 02 out of 08 cases and in IDC, 07 out of 25 cases, showed a mean Ki-67 index of 10.9 +/- 3.2% and 14.04 ± 5.34%, respectively. Group-Ill contained tumors equal to or more than 5.1 cm in size. In ILC 03 out of 08 cases and in IDC 11 out of 25 cases, showed a mean Ki-67 index of 14.2 +/- 9.3% and 17.38 +/- 11.30% respectively. The results of ILC versus IDC in all three groups were statistically insignificant [P>0.05]. So it is concluded that preoperative chemotherapy is a useful therapeutic strategy for operable breast cancer of any size