Relationship between HER2 Proto-oncogene Status and Prognostic Factors of Breast Cancer in the West of Iran

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Breast cancer is a very common health problem in Iranian women. The HER2-neu gene is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase with homology to members of the EGF receptor family. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HER2-neu oncogene status with prognostic factors of breast cancer in Kermanshah province, Iran. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: Relationship between HER2-neu and prognostic factors of 130 cases of breast cancer were evaluated during two years in Imam Reza hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the T-test and Mann Whitney U non-parametric test using SPSS 19. <br/><b>Results</b>: The mean age for the patients was 46.0±8.0 years, all being female. Among the predictive factors for breast cancer were family history, stage of disease, involvement of the lymphovascular system, number of involved lymph nodes in axillaries, grading and hormone receptor status with HER2-neu oncogene had direct correlation and between factors, tumor location, patient age and histological characteristics and HER2-neu oncogene had no significant relationship. We found significant correlation between HER2 with ER and PR and also HER2 with ER, PR negative. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: HER2-neu is risk factor that can be a good prognostic and also predictive factor. For these reasons, we recommend that it be evaluated for all types of BC.