Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ian Brotherick, Dr Brian Shenton, Dr William Cowan, Dr Brian Angus, Professor Thomas Lennard
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Quantification of c-erbB-2 and its relationship with other prognostic markers using flow cytometry has been examined. In this study a level for c-erbB-2 expression above which tumours are classified as positive by flow cytometry has been determined by employment of positive cut-off threshold levels. c-erbB-2 expression by both flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry was studied using the monoclonal antibody NCL-CBII. The relationship of c-erbB-2 quantification by flow cytometry was then compared with ploidy, axillary node status, tumour size and grade. Increased c-erbB-2 expression was seen using flow cytometry. Correlation between immunohistochemistry and flow-cytometry methods just failed to reach significance (P = 0.06). Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant relationship between c-erbB-2 expression and aneuploidy (P = 0.04). Cytokeratin-positive cells from 110 samples obtained from patients with breast cancer were assayed for DNA content and c-erbB-2 expression by flow cytometry. No correlation was seen between these parameters upon application of Mann Whitney analysis. However, examination of fluorescence thresholds showed a positive correlation between grade and c-erbB-2 expression at a level of more than 3200 molecules (P less than or equal to 0.03). At the level of 3600 molecules significance was increased (P = 0.004). These levels equated with between 15% and 19% of the samples being classified as c-erbB-2-positive. Application of these cut-off points showed no correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and ploidy, tumour size or axillary node status. Comparison of ploidy and grade showed a significant association (P = 0.0015), increased grade correlating with aneuploidy.
Author(s): Brotherick I, Shenton BK, Cowan WK, Angus B, Horne CHW, Higgs MJ, Lennard TWJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy: other biological response modifications
Year: 1995
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Pages: 137-145
Print publication date: 01/09/1995
ISSN (print): 0340-7004
ISSN (electronic): 1432-0851