Correlation of Four Receptors Expression and Lymph Node Metastasis in Sudanese Breast Cancer Patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the imunohistochemical staining of four receptors and the metastasis of breast cancer to the lymph nodes and the age. The investigated receptors were estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR), human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF). Material and Methods: This study was retrospective study. One hundred and twenty one breast cancer tissues were retrieved from the radiation and isotope centre in Khartoum (RICK). The expression of the receptors was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results: Forty eight samples (39.7%) were with negative lymph nodes and 73 (60.3%) had positive lymph node metastasis. Regarding the immunohistochemical staining of the ER was positive in 23 (47.9%) out of the 48 lymph node negative tissues and it was positive in 33 (45.2%) tissues out of the 73 lymph node positive tissues. The PR positive staining results in the negative and positive lymph nodes tissues were 17 (35.4%) and 22 (30.1%) respectively. Thirty breast tissues (62.5%) were positive for HER-2 out of the 48 negative lymph node tissues compared to 57 (78.1%) HER-2 positive tissues out of the 73 tissues with lymph node involvement. Concerning the VEGF, it was positive in 17 (35.4%) of the lymph node negative tissues and in 25 (34.2%) of the tissues with positive lymph node metastasis. The spearman correlation showed that there was a weak, negative and insignificant correlation between ER, PR and VEGF and the lymph node involvement while there was positive and insignificant correlation between HER and the lymph node metastasis. There was significant positive correlation between the collective results and the lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Collective staining results of ER, PR, HER and VEGF were useful as predictors for lymph node metastasis.