Associations of Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, Human Epidemic Growth Factor Receptor-2 and Ki-67 with Ultrasound Signs and Prognosis of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective

The functions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67 in breast cancer have been explored. This study was carried out to explore ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 expression levels in breast cancer patients and their relationship with ultrasound signs and prognosis.

Patients and Methods

A total of 274 female primary breast cancer patients received preoperative ultrasound examination. ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 expression levels in breast cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining after surgery. The correlations of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 expression with ultrasound signs and prognosis of breast cancer patients were analyzed.

Results

The positive expression rate of ER, PR and HER-2 and Ki-67 high expression in 274 breast cancer patients was 73.36% (201/274), 59.85% (164/274), 24.09% (66/274) and 66.06% (181/274), respectively. ER-positive expression had association with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and blood flow grading; HER-2-positive expression was associated with LNM, while Ki-67-positive expression was related to the tumor diameter, LNM, and blood flow grading. LNM and Ki-67 high expression were risk factors for OS; PR-positive was a protective factor for OS; TNM stage, tumor diameter, LNM and Ki-67 high expression were risk factors for DFS in breast cancer patients.

Conclusion

ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 in breast cancer are related to the ultrasound signs and prognosis of breast cancer patients. The joint detection of multiple indicators provides a reference for the individualized treatment of targeted drugs.

Keywords:

• estrogen receptor
• progesterone receptor
• human epidemic growth factor receptor-2
• Ki-67
• breast cancer
• ultrasound signs
• prognosis

Highlights

1. ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki67 in breast cancer are both independent and interrelated.

2. ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki67 is related to different ultrasound signs of breast cancer.

3. PR-positive and Ki67 high expression are associated with OS and DFS of breast cancer.

4. Breast cancer prognosis is judged accurately with detection of multiple indicators.

5. This study offers a basis for individualized treatment of targeted drugs in breast cancer.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.