Differences in estrogen receptor status, HER2, and p53 comparing metachronous bilateral breast carcinoma

Abstract

Background and Objectives: We analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics and tumor biology of metachronous bilateral breast carcinoma with regard to p53, HER2 and hormone receptor status.Methods: A consecutive series of 54 female metachronous bilateral breast carcinoma patients treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1980 and 1997 were the primary source of these retrospective data. Clinicopathologic background factors were analyzed, and immunohistochemical staining for p53, HER2, and hormone receptor status was carried out on paraffin‐embedded specimens.Results: There were no significant differences in clinical stage, p53 and HER2 expression levels between the first and second primary tumors. The positive rates for ER and PR were 48% (25 of 52) and 46% (25 of 54) for the first tumors, but only 19% (10 of 52) and 32% (17 of 54) for the second tumors (P = 0.004 for ER, P = 0.16 for PR), showing a significant loss of ER.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that p53 and HER2 expression levels in the second tumors might be the same as those of the first tumors in metachronous bilateral breast carcinoma; however, loss of ER was more frequently observed in the second primary tumors than in the first tumors. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001; 77:31–34.