Correlation between grade of the tumour and HER2NEU status in breast cancer.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of histological grades of breast cancer and its association with HER2/neu expression. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Period: March 2024 to August 2024. Setting: Oncology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: Patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma, with complete records for molecular subtype and hormone receptor status, and no history of recurrent, metastatic, or multiple cancers. Exclusion criteria were patients who refused participation, had benign lesions, or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to presentation, were analyzed. Demographics, tumor site, histological grade, stage at diagnosis, and hormone profile of the patients were documented using a structured questionnaire. Results: In a total of 286 patients, 233 (81.5%) were over 40 years old, while 164 (57.3%) were overweight or obese. There were 257 (89.9%) patients who belonged rural areas of residence. The family history of breast cancer was noted among 42 (14.7%) women. A significant percentage of participants were HER2/neu positive, with expression varying across different tumor grades. Almost all patients with Grade I, Grade III, and Grade IV tumors were HER2/neu positive (100%, 99%, and 100%, respectively), while a slightly lower percentage was observed in Grade II tumors (95.9%). Conclusion: The nearly ubiquitous HER2/neu positivity observed across most tumor grades, with only a slight reduction in Grade II tumors, underscores the high prevalence of HER2/neu expression in this population. Routine HER2/neu testing in Pakistani breast cancer patients seems important, irrespective of tumor grade, for prognosis and treatment decisions.