ROLE OF IMMUNO-HISTOCHEMISTRY IN SUBTYPING OF BREAST CARCINOMA AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH HISTOLOGICAL GRADE AND LYMPH NODE STATUS
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Keywords
Immuno-histochemistry, Breast Carcinoma, Histological Grading, Lymph Node Status
Abstract
Background: Breast carcinoma is a biologically heterogeneous disease with variable prognosis and therapeutic response. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a crucial role in molecular subtyping of breast cancer and provides important prognostic and predictive information beyond routine histopathology.
Objectives: To evaluate the role of immunohistochemistry in subtyping breast carcinoma and to study its association with histological grade and lymph node status.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 50 histologically confirmed cases of breast carcinoma. Tumors were graded using the Nottingham modification of the Bloom–Richardson system. Immunohistochemical analysis for ER, PR, HER2/neu, and Ki-67 was performed, and cases were classified into molecular subtypes. Associations between IHC subtypes, histological grade, and lymph node status were analyzed.
Results: Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common histological type. Luminal subtypes constituted the majority of cases. Luminal A tumors were predominantly associated with lower histological grades and lower lymph node involvement, whereas HER2-enriched and triple-negative subtypes showed significant association with higher histological grades, elevated Ki-67 index, and increased lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion: Immuno-histochemistry is an essential adjunct to histopathology in breast carcinoma, enabling accurate molecular subtyping and prognostic stratification. Its strong correlation with histological grade and lymph node status underscores its importance in guiding personalized management and therapeutic decisions.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Medha Misra
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh
Sujeeta Singh
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh
Nidhi Kamal
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh
Devendra Kumar
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Autonomous State Medical College, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh.
