Correlation Study Between The Calcifications Of Breast Cancer With X-ray Mammography And The Expression Of ER,PR And C-erbB-2

Objective:We explored the relationship between calcification and expression of breast-cancer markers, including epidermal growth factor receptor-2(c-erb B-2), progesterone receptor(PR) and estrogen receptor(ER), in breast-cancer patients with molybdenum photography X-ray and subsequent immunohistochemistry respectively. Methods:1. Subjects were from the Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University(Jan, 2014 to Jun, 2015). One hundred breast-cancer patients diagnosed after surgury and pathological examination were included. All patients received bilateral molybdenum photography X-ray examination before surgery and were grouped into with- and wihout-calcification groups. Calcification was further characterized amont with-calcification patients.2. All post-surgery tissue samples from the 100-subjects were further processed for immunohistochemical staining to characterize the expression of c-erb B-2, PR and ER. Results:1. Calcifications were absent in 55 patients(55.00%, without-calcification patients) and microsand-like calcifications were evident in 45 patients(45.00%, with-calcification patients). Further characterizations among with-calcification patients showed that calcifications distributed along the mammary ducts in 13 patients(along-duct calcifications, 28.89%), the number of calcifications was higher above 20 in 28 paitients(above-20 calcifications, 62.22%) and lumps were evident with caclfications in 20 patients(with-lump calcifications, 44.44%).2. Among 100 patients, 54(54.00%) were c-erb B-2 positive, 56(56.00%) were PR positive and 67(67.00%) were ER positive.3. Based on whether there were calcifications, expression of c-erb B-2 was significantly higher in with-calcification patients(χ~2 = 5.28, P = 0.022), expression of PR was slightly but non-significantly higher in with-calcification patients(χ~2 = 0.531, P = 0.466) and expression of ER was non-significantly higher in with-calcification patients(χ~2 = 2.709, P = 0.100).4. Based on whther there were along-duct calcifications, expression of c-erb B-2 was non-significantly lower in patients without along-duct calcifications(χ~2 = 1.460, P=0.227), expression of PR was significantly lower in patients without along-duct calcifications(χ~2 = 3.910, P = 0.048) and expression of ER was slightly but non-significantly lowere in patients without along-duct calcifications(χ~2 = 0.180, P = 0.672).5. Based on whether there were above-20 calcifications, expression of c-erb B-2 was non-significantly higher in patients with above-20 calcifications(χ~2 = 0.756, P = 0.384), expression of PR was slightly but non-significantly higher in patients with above-20 calcifications(χ~2 = 0.377, P = 0.539) and expression of ER was slightly but non-significantly higher in patients with above-20 calcifications(χ~2 = 0.000, P = 1.000).6. Based on whether there were with-lump calcifications, expression of c-erb B-2 was slightly but non-significantly higher in patients without lumps(χ~2 = 0.254, P = 0.614), expression of PR was non-significantly lower in patients without lumps(χ~2 = 0.926, P = 0.336) and expression of ER was obviously and significantly lower in patients without lumps(χ~2 = 4.377, P = 0.036). Conclusion:1. There was certain positive correlation between calcifications and c-erb B-2 expression. Presence of microsand like calcifications indicates higher incidence of c-erb B-2 expression. No obvious correlation between calcifications and expression of PR or ER was observed.2. There was certain negative correlation between calcification-distribution and PR expression. Along-duct calcifications indicates lower incidence of PR expression. No obvious correlation between calcification-distribution and expresison of c-erb B-2 or ER was observed.3. There was no correlation between calcification-number and expresison of c-erb B-2, PR or ER.4. There was certain positive correlation between lump-presence and ER expression. Presence of with-lump calcifications indicates higer incidence of ER expression. No obvious correlation between lump-presence and expresison of c-erb B-2 or PR was observed.