What is it about?
This study aimed at comparing Immunohistochemistry (IHC) which is the current gold standard for the detection of hormonal receptors in breast cancer to detection using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Polymerase Chain Reaction is cheaper and more accessible in developing countries. In this study, we found that PCR detection of receptors in Breast cancer is comparable to IHC. This method could potentially be deployed for hormonal receptor detection in developing countries.
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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Why is it important?
What makes our work important is that currently the standard of care for evaluation of ER, PR and HER2 is IHC which is both expensive but also requires a highly trained Pathologist to interpret. It is also not widely available in our setting. Conversely, PCR is widely available, much cheaper and could make such testing more accessible and improve care for breast cancer. Of course, questions remain if it can be replicated in other cancers.
Perspectives
This was a groundbreaking study at the Institute where an alternative and more accessible PCR technique was studied in relation to the IHC standard in the detection of ER, PR and HER2 breast cancer receptors. Use of other sample forms like fresh frozen tissues preserved in a nucleic acid stabilizer were also studied in relation to the routine formalin fixed tissues. This study highlights the use of other sample forms in the detection of ER, PR and HER-2 in breast cancer, understanding any potential effects of formalin fixation and assessment of the triple negative cancers by quantitative means of the hormonal receptors under study.
HENRY WANNUME
Uganda Cancer Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Quantitative expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and their correlation with immunohistochemistry in breast cancer at Uganda Cancer Institute, PLOS One, January 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311185.
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