Quantitative expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and their correlation with immunohistochemistry in breast cancer at Uganda Cancer Institute

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dc.contributor.authorWannume, Henry
dc.contributor.authorNiyonzima, Nixon
dc.contributor.authorKalungi, Sam
dc.contributor.authorOkuni, Julius Boniface
dc.contributor.authorOkecha, Tonny
dc.contributor.authorKakungulu, Edward
dc.contributor.authorKiwuwa, Steven Mpungu
dc.contributor.authorWaiswa, Geoffrey
dc.contributor.authorKadhumbula, Sylvester
dc.contributor.authorNamayanja, Monica
dc.contributor.authorNabwana, Martin
dc.contributor.authorOrem, Jackson
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-10T12:52:18Z
dc.date.available2025-01-10T12:52:18Z
dc.date.issued2025-01
dc.description.abstractThe detection of Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is important for the stratification of breast cancer and the selection of therapeutic modalities. This study aimed to determine the quantitative expression of ER, PR and HER-2 using Immunohistochemistry and their correlation with quantitative baseline Ct values measured using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This study also assessed the use of fresh breast tissue biopsies preserved in RNAlater solution in the quantitative detection of these receptors using PCR technique. The study evaluated 20 matched formalin fixed paraffin embedded and RNAlater preserved samples for ER, PR, and HER-2 using IHC and quantitative PCR technique. One portion of the breast tissue biopsy was fixed immediately in 10% neutral buffered formalin and another was preserved in RNAlater. After the histological confirmation of breast cancer by the H&E technique, formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues (FFPE)—positive cases were matched with their corresponding RNAlater samples for IHC and qPCR. The extracted RNA was quantified using Nanodrop technology, resulting into complementary DNA. ER and PR using IHC were expressed in 60% (n = 12) of the study samples and were negative in 40% (n = 8) of samples. HER-2 was negative in 70% (n = 14) of study samples, 25% (n = 5) positive, and 5% (n = 1) equivocal. With the quantitative expression of ER, PR, and HER-2 being reported in the IHC triple—negative breast cancer cases. The mean Ct values for the hormonal receptors correlated with what has been previously studied with ER at 19.631, PR at 25.410 and HER-2 at 25.695. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean Ct values of RNAlater and FFPE with their P-values being 0.9919, 0.0896 and < 0.0001 for ER, PR, and HER-2 respectively. P-values; 0.9919 and 0.0896 for ER and PR respectively being greater than 0.05 it’s a borderline significance although HER-2 had a statistical significance. With a concordance in the detection of these breast cancer hormonal receptors, qPCR can be used in our setting considering the delays that may be associated in following the samples through IHC processing.
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded as part of the Master's Scholarship Study Support Award received from the African Development Bank under the Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda, received by Henry Wannume. Additional financial support for this research was awarded by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (Grant No. 18-184 RG/BIO/AF/AC G FR3240303657) via a Master's student research support to Dr. Steven Mpungu Kiwuwa of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. This grant also supported Henry Wannume (Master’s student) to cover part of the research fees.
dc.identifier.citationWannume, Henry, Nixon Niyonzima, Sam Kalungi, et al. '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, vol. 20/no. 1, (2025), pp. e0311185.
dc.identifier.issnISSN 1932-6203
dc.identifier.issnEISSN 1932-6203
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/9744
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science
dc.titleQuantitative expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and their correlation with immunohistochemistry in breast cancer at Uganda Cancer Institute
dc.typeArticle
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