IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF PRIMARY INVASIVE CARCINOMA OF THE FEMALE BREAST SEEN AT LAUTECH TEACHING HOSPITALS, OSOGBO AND OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA(JANUARY 2005-DECEMBER 2014)

Abstract

Introduction- Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy in women in both industrialized
and developing countries and the commonest malignancy in Nigerian women. The aim of
this study was to determine the immunohistochemical profile of primary invasive
carcinomas of the female breast seen at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospitals in Osogbo and
Ogbomoso over a ten year period.
Methods- All histologically diagnosed breast cancer cases in the Department of
Histopathology of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospitals, Ogbomoso and Osogbo, Oyo and
Osun state respectively between 2005 and 2014 were recruited into the study. Relevant
information was obtained from histology report cards. Cases with inadequate clinical or
pathology data were excluded from the study. Sections were recut for histological grading
and immunohistochemistry using the indirectimmunoperoxidase method was done on 205
cases. The panel of antibodies used was for oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Her
2/neu and p53.
Results- Three hundred and forty three cases of breast cancer were seen during the study
period. Out of these, 200 had immunohistochemistry done on them. The age range of the
patients was 20-89 years (mean -49 years). Majority (52.7%) of cases occurred after 50
years of age. Both breasts were equally affected. Large tumour size (> 2.0 cm) was seen in
91.3% of cases. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (NOS) was the commonest histological
variant and was seen in 88.9% of the cases. Majority of the cases were intermediate grade
cancer (71.0%). High grade and low grade cancer were seen in 22.0% and 7.0% of the
cases respectively. Lymph node metastasis was seen in 23.9% of the cases.
Positivity for oestrogen and progesterone receptors was high and was seen in 62.0% and
70.7% respectively. Her-2/neu positivity was in only 34.2%. p53 positivity was
76.1%.Two hundred and five cases had complete set of immunohistochemistry stains. Of
these, 48 (23.9%) were triple negative.
Conclusion-The immunohistochemical profile of female breast cancer in Ogbomoso and
Osogbo shows high percentage of oestrogen and progesterone receptors; Her-2/neu and p53
positivity.