This study aimed to assess the significance of human epidermal growth factor (HER-2/neu) protein overexpression and its possible correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),grade and stage in human non otherwise specified breast cancer. The present investigation was performed over a period starting from November 2008 to January 2009 .Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 30 patients with breast cancer were included in this study. A group of 15 patients with benign breast lesions (fibroadenoma) was included as a comparative group and 15 normal breast tissue sections were included as control group. Labeled Streptavidin-Biotin Complex (LSAB) method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu. Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) method was employed for immunohistochemical detection of VEGF . A total of 30 malignant cases were included.HER2/neu was considered as positive in(18 cases)60% of non otherwise specified invasive ductal carcinoma and VEGF was considered as positive in (21cases)70% with concomitant positivity of both markers in more than half (16 cases)53.3% out of 30 malignant cases . No overexpression of both markers have been noticed in normal or benign (fibroadenoma) breast tissue sections with significant difference from that of malignant cases(P<0.05).We did not find any significant difference between overexpression of both(HER-2/neu and VEGF) in relation to age ,tumor size ,tumor stage and positive or negative lymph node breast cancer cases (P>0.05). However there was positive relation between HER-2/neu overexpression and the grade of tumor (P<0.05) ,while there was no significant difference between VEGF overexpression and the tumor grade(P>0.05).HER-2/neu overexpression was positively correlated with VEGF immunostaining in relation to grade and stage (P<0.05).
Based upon the findings of this study, it can be concluded that both HER-2/neu and VEGF play an important role in the pathogenesis of non other wised specified breast cancer and supports the evidence of its role in evolution ,angiogenesis and cell survival of this aggressive tumor . This study recommended that the blocking of both HER-2/neu and VEGF may be a target for blocking the evolution and angiogenesis and hence improving the efficacy of anti cancer therapy against this aggressive type of breast cancer.
