Serum C-erbB-2 Protein in Breast Cancer Patients
SUPORNPIM CHEARSKUL M.D., M.Sc.*, KRIS BHOTHISUWAN, M.D.***, SAMARN ORNRHEBROI, B.Sc. *, SASITHORN SUNGKABUNCHOO, Cer.Med.Sci.Tech.* PAIROJ SINLARAT M.D.**, MALIKA CHURINTRAPUN, M.Sc. *, NAMOIY KLINSALA, B.Sc.*,
Affiliation : * Department of Physiology, ** Department of Medicine, *** Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700. Thailand.
Measurements of c-erbB-2 protein were done in sera of 20 normal women, 22 benign
breast disease patients and in respectively 43 and 51 samples from primary breast cancer patients
obtained prior to and after surgical interventions. Mean value of serum c-erbB-2 in non-malignant
women was insignificantly different from the value in the breast cancer group. Positivity rate of
serum c-erbB-2 in the cancer group was 13.8 per cent. Increasing postoperative serum c-erbB-2
concentrations were in good association with severity, progressiveness and relapse of breast
cancer independently of other variables such as age, menopausal status, tumor size, axillary node
invasion, ER or PR status. Pretreatment serum c-erbB-2 positivity was inversely correlated to
ER status but relation to other prognostic parameters of breast cancer was not found. Agreement
between c-erbB-2 measured in serum by enzymeirnmunoassay and in tissue by immunohisto-
chemical assay was also found.
Our data confirmed that in primary breast cancer patients, monitoring of circulating
c-erbB-2 protein levels after operation are useful for detecting the recurrence and/or metastasis
of the disease especially in ER positive breast cancer. Pretreatment serum c-erbB-2 concentrations
do not have benefit for early diagnosis of the tumor.
Keywords : Serum c-erbB-2 Protein, Primary Breast Cancer
