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The relationship between flow-cytometric and immunohistochemically detected c-erbB-2 expression, grade and DNA ploidy in breast cancer

  • Original Article
  • c-erbB-2, Breast, Grade, Ploidy, Flow Cytometry, Cytokeratin
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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quantification of c-erb B-2 and its relationship with other prognostic markers using flow cytometry has been examined. In this study a level for c-erb B-2 expression above which tumours are classified as positive by flow cytometry has been determined by employment of positive cut-off threshold levels. c-erb B-2 expression by both flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry was studied using the monoclonal antibody NCL-CBII. The relationship of c-erb B-2 quantification by flow cytometry was then compared with ploidy, axillary node status, tumour size and grade. Increased c-erb B-2 expression was seen using flow cytometry. Correlation between immunohistochemistry and flow-cytometry methods just failed to reach significance (P=0.06). Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant relationship between c-erb B-2 expression and aneuploidy (P=0.04). Cytokeratinpositive cells from 110 samples obtained from patients with breast cancer were assayed for DNA content and c-erb B-2 expression by flow cytometry. No correlation was seen between these parameters upon application of Mann Whitney analysis. However, examination of fluorescence thresholds showed a positive correlation between grade and c-erb B-2 expression at a level of more than 3200 molecules (P≦0.03). At the level of 3600 molecules significance was increased (P=0.004). These levels equated with between 15% and 19% of the samples being classified as c-erb B-2 positive. Application of these cut-off points showed no correlation between c-erb B-2 expression and ploidy, tumour size or axillary node status. Comparison of ploidy and grade showed a significant association (P=0.0015), increased grade correlating with aneuploidy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Medical School, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Ian Brotherick, Brian K. Shenton & Thomas W. J. Lennard

  2. Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK

    William K. Cowan

  3. Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Brian Angus & Charles H. W. Horne

  4. Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK

    Michael J. Higgs

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  1. Ian Brotherick
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  2. Brian K. Shenton
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  7. Thomas W. J. Lennard
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Brotherick, I., Shenton, B.K., Cowan, W.K. et al. The relationship between flow-cytometric and immunohistochemically detected c-erbB-2 expression, grade and DNA ploidy in breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 41, 137–145 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01521338

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01521338

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