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Expression of wild‐type estrogen receptor β protein in human breast cancer: Specific correlation with HER2/ neu overexpression
Author(s) -
Umekita Yoshihisa,
Souda Masakazu,
Ohi Yasuyo,
Sagara Yoshiatsu,
Rai Yoshiaki,
Takahama Tetsuya,
Yoshida Hiroki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2006.01983.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , estrogen receptor , breast cancer , progesterone receptor , her2/neu , cancer , estrogen receptor alpha , medicine , estrogen receptor beta , estrogen , trastuzumab , biology , pathology , cancer research
Expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) protein in human breast cancer and correlation with clinicopathological factors have been reported by many investigators, but many of them used ERβ antibodies that react with both wild‐type ERβ (ERβwt) and splicing variant isoform. Therefore, the frequency and correlation with clinicopathological factors of ERβwt expression remain to be established. In the present study a monoclonal antibody EMR02, specific for ERβwt, was used in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded sections from 225 female primary breast cancer patients diagnosed as having invasive ductal carcinoma. Expression of ERα, progesterone receptor (PgR) and HER2/ neu were also investigated by immunohistochemistry. For ERβwt, ERα and PgR, positivity was defined as nuclear staining in >10% of the cancer cells. HER2/ neu overexpression was defined as a Hercep test score 3+. Positivity for ERβwt, ERα, PgR and HER2/ neu overexpression was 55%, 74%, 61% and 25%, respectively. The expression of ERβwt had a positive correlation with ERα ( P = 0.018) and PgR ( P = 0.02). There was significant positive correlation between ERβwt expression and HER2/ neu overexpression ( P < 0.0001). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis the most significant association was between ERβwt expression and HER2/ neu overexpression ( P < 0.0001). These results suggest that clinical significances of ERβwt expression in human breast cancer patients may be more complex.