Authors : P. Azadeh , A.S.H. Yousefi Kashi , A. Fazlalizadeh , G.H.R. Ehtejab and H.R. Mirzaee
Abstract: Several retrospective studies have illustrated the correlation between HER2 overexpression and increased risk of metastatic disease and poor prognosis in breast cancer. In a retrospective study, we evaluated the risk of brain metastases in these patients. Medical charts of 155 patients with breast cancer were reviewed for IHC and HER2 status, sites of metastases, total dose and fraction size of radiotherapy for brain metastasis,age and coure of the disease. Sample size was determined by statistical analysis according to previos studies. We selected 20 patients with brain metastases as case and 60 patients without brain metastasis in control group. IHC reports was available for 80 patients. Eighty five percent (17/20) of patients with brain metastasis were HER2 positive compared with 40% (24/60) of HER-2 positivity in patients without brain metastases (with and without visceral metastasis) (p = 0.001). Concidering other metastatic sites, the probability of being HER2 positive was higher in patients with brain metastasis (with and without visceral metastasis) (85%, 17/20), compared with patients who had presented with visceral metastasis only (27.3%,3/11) (p = 0.004). Thirty six patients among 60 cases (60%) without brain metastases and 11 patients out of 20 cases with brain metastases (55%) were younger than 50 years old (p = 0.649).
P. Azadeh , A.S.H. Yousefi Kashi , A. Fazlalizadeh , G.H.R. Ehtejab and H.R. Mirzaee , 2008. HER-2 Status in Breast Cancer Patients with and Without Brain Metastases. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 1-3.