Immunohistochemical determination of HER-2 / new overexpression in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast with cervical nodal metastasis

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the frequency of HER-2/neu overexpression, in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast and correlate it with various standard prognostic parameters. This study was performed on formalin fixed paraf n embedded blocks of 72 diagnosed cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast. The blocks were retrieved and the staining was done to see the HER-2/neu overexpression. Sections containing > 50% of tumour cells showing intense circumferential cell membrane staining scored as positive. The HER-2/neu overexpression was seen in 31% of cases. A significant relationship [P<0.05] was found between HER-2/neu overexpression and lymphnode status and size of the tumour. The overexpressivity of HER-2/neu oncoprotein suggests that Herceptin can be used as therapeutic measure on these cases