pS2 expression in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast correlates with oestrogen receptor positivity but not with histological grade and lymph node status

This investigation was carried out to gain insight into the prevalence of pS2 expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma in the Malaysian population and its correlation with oestrogen receptor (ER) protein expression and tumour aggressiveness. Seventy consecutive infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance were investigated, using the standard avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase method with microwave antigen retrieval and commercial monoclonal antibodies (Dako), for expression of pS2 and human ER. This was correlated against histological grade (modified Bloom and Richardson) and the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis of these carcinomas. Four (5.7%) were grade 1, 40 (57.1%) grade 2 and 26 (37.1%) grade 3 tumours. A total of 45 (64%) showed histological evidence of axillary lymph node metastasis. Forty (57%) were ER-positive, while 31 (44%) were pS2-positive. There was a statistically significant correlation between pS2 and ER expressions (chi2-test with Yates correction: P<0.005). There was no correlation between pS2 expression and histological grade (P>0.1) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (P>0.1). Our findings support the views that pS2 may be a co-marker of endocrine responsiveness in invasive breast cancer and that it does not influence breast cancer biology in terms of potential for metastatic spread.