Research in Medicine

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy world wide and in Iran as well and is  the second cause of death due to malignancy after lung cancer. Varieties of factors such as estrogen and progesterone receptors, and axillary lymph node involvement may influence the prognosis and therapeutic  approach. However, mutation in HER2 gene may also affect the prognosis. In this study, we evaluate the relation between HER2, estrogen and progesterone receptors and axillary lymph node involvement, in primary breast carcinoma.

Materials and methods: For this cross-sectional study, 102 patients with primary breast cancer were enrolled. Having prepared the sections, they were stained by H & E. Then, the size and type of tumor, severity, and number of involved lymph nodes were determined. On the other hand, we have identified the estrogen, progesterone and HER₂ according to the immunohistochemiostry staining.

Results: Of 102 subjects, 65 (73.7%) were HER2 positive. We have found a significant association between the HER₂ and number of involved lymph nodes (p<0.007), however, our results failed to show any  significant association between estrogen and progesterone receptors and severity of diseases.

Conclusion: The high frequency of HER2 gene mutation draws our attention towards the importance of this marker among Iranians, however, to confirm the role of HER2 in breast cancer prognosis, we must conduct further studies. Keywords: HER₂, Estrogen receptor, Progesterone receptor, Axillary lymph node, Breast cancer.