UTILITY OF PANEL OF IMMUNO HISTOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN CARCINOMA BREAST-OUR EXPERIENCE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of malignancy in Indian females accounting for 16% of all malignancies. It causes lot of anxiety and emotional stress in the patient. Immunohistochemical panel of markers in breast carcinoma helps to categorize various tumour subtypes, gives valuable information on prognosis and also helps to determine, plan and predict response to therapy. Aims and Objectives: 1. To evaluate the expression of ER, PR, Her2neu, Ki67, CK5/6, EGFR in breast carcinoma to predict and plan therapy. 2. To categorize breast carcinoma based on molecular classication in our hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of 278 cases of Breast Carcinoma obtained by trucut biopsy and Modied Radical mastectomy at Government Kilpauk Medical College was parafn processed and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. The lab reporting was done according to the standard system using College of American Pathologists (CAP) protocol. Immunohistochemistry was done using a panel of markers. Relevant demographic and clinical details of the patient were obtained and studied. Results: In the present study, breast carcinoma is commonly seen in the post menopausal age group. Invasive breast carcinoma (NOS type) is the most common histological variant. Grade 2 is the most common histological grade. Molecular testing showed most of the tumors belonged to Luminal A. CK5/6 and EGFR expression was high in Triple Negative Breast carcinomas. Conclusion: A thorough histomorphological and molecular studies help in understanding the tumour pathology and thereby providing prompt hormonal and targeted therapies improving the patient survival and prognosis.