BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PATTERNS IN BREAST CARCINOMA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
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Keywords
Breast carcinoma, ER, PR, HER2/neu, immunohistochemistry, histopathology, tumor grade, triple-negative
Abstract
Background: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy among women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early diagnosis and characterization are crucial for effective treatment. Biochemical markers such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) play a vital role in the molecular classification and prognosis of breast cancer. Histopathological patterns, on the other hand, provide insight into tumor behavior and grade.
Objective: To compare the expression of biochemical markers (ER, PR, HER2/neu) with various histopathological patterns in diagnosed cases of breast carcinoma, and evaluate their prognostic relevance.
Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted at Sughra Shafi Medical Complex Narowal in two-year tenure from January 2023 to December 2024. A total of 100 breast carcinoma cases confirmed by histopathology were included. Tissue samples were analyzed for histological type and grade using H&E staining. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to detect the presence of ER, PR, and HER2/neu. The results were correlated with tumor type, grade, and other clinical parameters.
Results: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common histopathological type observed (78%), followed by invasive lobular carcinoma (12%) and others (10%). ER positivity was seen in 65% of cases, PR in 58%, and HER2/neu overexpression in 25%. ER and PR positivity were significantly associated with lower tumor grade and better differentiation (p<0.05). HER2/neu overexpression was more common in high-grade tumors and was negatively associated with ER/PR expression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounted for 12% of the cases, showing aggressive features histologically.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of correlating biochemical markers with histopathological findings in breast carcinoma. ER and PR positivity are associated with favorable histological features, while HER2/neu overexpression and triple-negative status correspond to higher grade and aggressive behavior. Routine evaluation of these markers is essential for guiding therapeutic decisions and predicting patient outcomes.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Ali Raza
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Sahara Medical College, Sughra Shafi Medical Complex, The Sahara University Narowal, Pakistan
Ikram-ul-Haq
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Sahara Medical College, Sughra Shafi Medical Complex, The Sahara University Narowal, Pakistan
Bashir Ahmed Shaheen
Department of Biochemistry, Gulab Devi Educational Complex Lahore, Pakistan
Laraib Fatima
Department of Biochemistry, Gulab Devi Educational Complex Lahore, Pakistan
Laiba Shafique
Department of Biochemistry, Gulab Devi Educational Complex Lahore, Pakistan
Anas Khalil
Assistant Professor, department of Biochemistry, Wah Medical College National University of Medical Sciences Rawalpindi, Pakistan