Differential Expression of RAGE, EGFR and Ki-67 in Primary Tumors and Lymph Node Deposits of Breast Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a complex disease that results from the inheritance of a number of susceptible genes.<br />Intensive search wok was conducted world-wide on molecular bases of breast cancer in order to achieve the best<br />therapeutic modalities; however, breast cancer still remains a challengeable task. It is very important to determine if<br />the biological parameters in metastatic regional lymph nodes are similar to that in the primary breast cancer because<br />therapy is indicated for patients with synchronous metastatic regional lymph nodes of breast cancer. Difference in<br />therapeutic response in cases of breast cancer may be assumed partially to variability in the biological behavior of tumor<br />tissue in primary breast cancer and lymph node metastasis. Aim: Our aim is to evaluate any variability in the expression of<br />three types of tissue markers in both the primary breast tumors and corresponding axillary lymph nodes in order to<br />expect the targeted therapeutic effect on both sites. Material and Methods: Three markers from different categories;<br />RAGE, EGFR and Ki-67 were immunohistochemicalyl studied for their expression in biopsy specimens from primary<br />breast tumors and their corresponding axillary lymph nodes. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in<br />the expression of these markers between benign and malignant breast lesions.Although we found some differences in<br />the expression of the three studied markers between primary breast cancer and corresponding axillary lymph nodes, yet<br />these variations were mostly not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings support the validity of anti-RAGE<br />and anti-EGFR therapy for treatment of both primary and nodal metastatic breast cancer in immunopositive cases.