TRIPLE MARKERS (ER, PR, HER 2 NEU) AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH KI67 EXPRESSION IN BREAST CARCINOMA - AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDYIN NORTH EAST INDIA

Background:Breast cancer is the most common and deadly malignancy of women globally. Breast cancer is called ER/PR positive if it has receptors for hormone estrogen/progesterone. Similarly HER2neu positive status of breast carcinoma means that HER2neu gene is making too many HER2neu proteins. Hormone receptor studies with ER, PR & HER2neu are routinely done in breast carcinoma. Ki67 is an independent factor to predict tumour grade. Breast carcinoma can therefore be classified based on expression patterns of ER, PR, HER2neu & correlated with Ki67 into various molecular subtypes.

Objectives:(1) To determine the association between expression patterns of ER, PR and HER2neu with Ki67 in breast carcinoma in patients attending our hospital. (2) To estimate the proportion of different molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma.

Materials & Methods: It was an observational cross sectional study done on 122 cases for a period of 2 years(July 2020- June 2022) and surgical specimens from patients operated for breast carcinoma of all ages along with true cut biopsies were included. Immunohistochemical study for ER, PR, HER2Neu & Ki67 were performed on breast tissue specimens received.

Results:The study found inverse correlation of Ki67 with ER, PR and its direct correlation with Her2Neu. TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Carcinoma) was the most predominant molecular subtype.

Conclusion:High Ki67 is considered as an unfavourable factor influencing tumour progression and is associated with poor prognosis. Ki67 is a potential prognostic biomarker in breast cancers and such prognostic information could be beneficial for development of therapeutic strategy.