Intratumoral Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer: A Comparison of Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancers

Oncologist. 2017 Apr;22(4):487-490. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2016-0352. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Abstract

Intratumoral heterogeneity presents challenges in the management of cancer. To gain deeper insight in intratumoral heterogeneity at different levels and tumor sites for common biomarkers in breast cancers, this report examines seven cases of invasive breast cancer with multiple axillary nodal metastases and/or recurrences for immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth receptor 2, and Ki67 on all tissue blocks in both primary and metastatic tumors. The Oncologist 2017;22:487-490.

Keywords: Biomarker; Breast cancer; Immunohistochemistry; Tumor heterogeneity.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Genetic Heterogeneity*
  • Humans
  • Ki-67 Antigen / genetics
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / genetics*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics
  • Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Receptor, ErbB-2