HORMONE RECEPTOR AND HER-2/NEU EXPRESSION OF BREAST CARCINOMAS AT LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, IKEJA: A FIVE-YEAR STUDY (1ST JULY, 2007 - 30TH JUNE, 2012)

Abstract

Breast carcinoma is a disease of utmost concern to the individual, family and society at
large. The current trend in the management of breast carcinoma involves hormonal therapy.
Consequently the hormone expression of the tumour in the individual involved must be
known if he or she is to benefit from such therapy. It is important to note that no work has
been done on this in my centre. This is a study of oestrogen and progesterone receptors as
well as Her-2/neu expression of breast carcinomas seen at the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital, Ikeja over a five-year period (1st July, 2007 – 30th June, 2012). The total
number of cases analysed during the period under study was 458 and they were all females
with an age range of 23 to 85 years, a mean age of 48 ± 12.03 years and a median age of 46
years. Tumour size ranged from 0.4cm to 21.5cm. Invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for
91.5% of the histological types. The tumours fell into histological grade I (10.5%), grade II
(48.5%) and grade III (41.0%). They expressed ER, PR and Her- 2/neu positivity in 6.8%, 2.2%,
and 4.4% of cases respectively. In conclusion, this study shows that breast carcinomas
occurred predominantly in females of younger age and present with large tumour size, most
of which were of high grade and exhibit triple negativity. Determination of hormone
receptor and Her-2/neu expression of individual breast carcinoma case is advocated as well
as an improvement in breast carcinoma screening programmes so that the disease can be
detected early.