Cyclooxygenase-2 and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) expression simultaneously in invasive and in situ breast ductal carcinoma

Authors

  • Adrienne Pratti Lucarelli Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Maria Marta Martins Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Wagner Montor Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Vilmar Oliveira Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Maria Antonieta Longo Galvão Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Sebastião Piato Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

Keywords:

Cyclooxygenase 2, Receptor, erbB-2, Breast neoplasms, Carcinoma, intraductal, noninfiltrating, Carcinoma, ductal, breast

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) are associated with tumorigenesis. Studies have shown that HER-2 can regulate COX-2 expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between COX-2 and HER-2 expression in normal breast epithelium and in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) present in the same breast. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at the Mastology Unit of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital. METHODS: COX-2 and HER-2 were detected using immunohistochemistry on 100 tissue fragments. HER-2 ≥ +2 was subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: COX-2 expression was detected in 87%, 85% and 75% of IDC, DCIS and normal epithelium, respectively. HER-2 expression was detected in 34% of IDC and 34% of DCIS. COX-2 in DCIS correlated with HER-2 in IDC (P = 0.049) and DCIS (P = 0.049). COX-2 in normal epithelium correlated with HER-2 in IDC (P = 0.046) and DCIS (P = 0.046). COX-2 in IDC was not associated with HER-2 (P = 0.235). Comparison between COX-2 and HER-2 in DCIS showed that there was a statistically significant difference with regard to nuclear grades II and III and presence of comedonecrosis (P < 0.001). In IDC, there was significant expression with nuclear grades II and III and histological grade II (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that HER-2 and COX-2 regulate each other.

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Author Biographies

Adrienne Pratti Lucarelli, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Instructor professor, Mastology Unit of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Maria Marta Martins, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Instructor professor, Mastology Unit of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Wagner Montor, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

PhD. Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Vilmar Oliveira, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

PhD. Instructor professor, Department of Pathology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Maria Antonieta Longo Galvão, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Assistant professor, Department of Pathology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Sebastião Piato, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Full professor, Mastology Unit of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

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Published

2011-11-11

How to Cite

1.
Lucarelli AP, Martins MM, Montor W, Oliveira V, Galvão MAL, Piato S. Cyclooxygenase-2 and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER-2) expression simultaneously in invasive and in situ breast ductal carcinoma. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2011 Nov. 11 [cited 2026 Sep. 5];129(6):371-9. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1644

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