AbstractIntroduction: Breast acer is a common cancer in Indian population. The assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) status of breast carcinoma is a routine practice to predict the likely outcome of endocrine therapy. The assessment of progesterone receptor (PR) status along with ER gives a stronger predictive power. The present study was undertaken to look at the prevalence of hormone receptor positive breast carcinomas and to correlate the ER/PR status by Quick score with various tumor characteristics in our local population.
Aim of the study: To assess the value of the Quick Score in terms of correlation with the other proven clinicopathological prognostic parameters of breast carcinoma and to document the prevalence of hormone receptor-positive breast carcinomas in patients attending Government General Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Padesh.
Materials and Methods: Total 122 cases were studied over a two year period and included 109 MRM and 13 simple mastectomy specimens. Routine hematoxylin and
eosin stain and immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone were done on these 122 tissue specimens. Patient age, size, histologic type and grade of the tumor, lymph node status, the ER/PR status with Quick score and the Nottingham prognostic index were studied.
Results: Most of the patients with carcinoma breast were in the 40-60 year age group. Most of the tumors were of size 2-5 cm, histologically were invasive ductal type and also most were of intermediate grade. ER and PR both were negative in 65.5% cases and both were positive in 23.7% cases.
Conclusion: Breast cancers in India show low hormone receptor expression and tend to occur in younger age group. The grade of tumor and NPI showed significant inverse correlation with Quick score of hormone receptor expression. In the present study, the overall grade of the tumor correlated well not only with the proportion of cells stained but also the intensity of staining, the two components of the Quick score that justify the assessment of staining in giving score.
Keywords: Quick Score; ER and PR Immunohistochemistry; Carcinoma Breast in India.