Open Access

Breast cancers with EGFR and HER2 co‑amplification favor distant metastasis and poor clinical outcome

  • Authors:
    • Peng Guo
    • Tianjie Pu
    • Shinan Chen
    • Yan Qiu
    • Xiaorong Zhong
    • Hong Zheng
    • Lina Chen
    • Hong Bu
    • Feng Ye
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 25, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7051
  • Pages: 6562-6570
  • Copyright: © Guo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

ErbB signaling serves essential roles in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). The aim of the present study was to assess gene amplification in ErbB family members in IDC with clinical implications. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed on formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded tumor samples for gene amplification detection. The clinical and histopathological characteristics, as well as the prognostic significance, were analyzed. Among the 119 IDC patients evaluated, epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR; also known as human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)1], HER2, HER3 and HER4 gene amplification was observed in 30 (25.2%), 44 (36.9%), 0 (0.0%) and 1 (0.8%) patients, respectively. EGFR amplification was associated with estrogen receptor status (P=0.028) and higher possibilities of recurrence (P=0.015) and distant metastasis (following initial surgery) (P=0.011). In survival analysis, EGFR amplification was also associated with disease‑free survival (DFS) (P=0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.003). HER2 amplification was associated with larger tumor size (P=0.006), later clinical stage (P=0.003) and distant metastasis (following initial surgery) (P=0.006). In survival analysis, HER2 amplification was also associated with DFS (P=0.011). Notably, the present study identified a group of patients in whom EGFR and HER2 were co‑amplified. This group of patients appeared to have a higher possibility of metastasis (when diagnosed) (P=0.014) and distant metastasis (following initial surgery) (P<0.001). In survival analysis, these patients were noticed to be associated with DFS (P<0.001) and OS (P=0.002). With respect to treatment regimen, this was also true for the DFS association with chemotherapy (P<0.001), radiotherapy (P<0.001) and hormonal therapy (P=0.001). The present results suggest that EGFR and HER2 amplification favor distant metastasis following initial surgery and are significantly associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients.
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December-2017
Volume 14 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Guo P, Pu T, Chen S, Qiu Y, Zhong X, Zheng H, Chen L, Bu H and Ye F: Breast cancers with EGFR and HER2 co‑amplification favor distant metastasis and poor clinical outcome. Oncol Lett 14: 6562-6570, 2017
APA
Guo, P., Pu, T., Chen, S., Qiu, Y., Zhong, X., Zheng, H. ... Ye, F. (2017). Breast cancers with EGFR and HER2 co‑amplification favor distant metastasis and poor clinical outcome. Oncology Letters, 14, 6562-6570. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7051
MLA
Guo, P., Pu, T., Chen, S., Qiu, Y., Zhong, X., Zheng, H., Chen, L., Bu, H., Ye, F."Breast cancers with EGFR and HER2 co‑amplification favor distant metastasis and poor clinical outcome". Oncology Letters 14.6 (2017): 6562-6570.
Chicago
Guo, P., Pu, T., Chen, S., Qiu, Y., Zhong, X., Zheng, H., Chen, L., Bu, H., Ye, F."Breast cancers with EGFR and HER2 co‑amplification favor distant metastasis and poor clinical outcome". Oncology Letters 14, no. 6 (2017): 6562-6570. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7051