Distinguishing luminal breast cancer subtypes by Ki67, progesterone receptor or TP53 status provides prognostic information

Mod Pathol. 2014 Apr;27(4):554-61. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.153. Epub 2013 Sep 20.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the prognostic significance of subgrouping estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors into low- and high-risk luminal categories using Ki67 index, TP53, or progesterone receptor (PR) status. The study group comprised 540 patients with lymph node negative, invasive breast carcinoma. Luminal A subtype was defined as being ER positive, HER2 negative, and Ki67 low (<14% cells positive) and luminal B subtype as being ER positive, HER2 negative, and Ki67 high (≥ 14% cells positive). Luminal tumors were also subgrouped into risk categories based on the PR and TP53 status. Survival analysis was performed. Patients with luminal B tumors (n=173) had significantly worse disease-free survival compared to those with luminal A tumors (n=186) (log rank P-value=0.0164; univariate Cox regression relative risk 2.00; 95% CI, 1.12-3.58; P=0.0187). Luminal subtype remained an independent prognostic indicator on multivariate analysis including traditional prognostic factors (relative risk 2.12; 95% CI, 1.16-3.88; P=0.0151). Using TP53 status or PR negativity rather than Ki67 to classify ER-positive luminal tumors gave similar outcome results to those obtained using the proliferation index. However, it was a combination of the three markers, which proved the most powerful prognostically. Ki67 index, TP53 status, or PR negativity can be used to segregate ER-positive, HER2-negative tumors into prognostically meaningful subgroups with significantly different clinical outcomes. These biomarkers particularly in combination may potentially be used clinically to guide patient management.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / classification
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinoma / chemistry*
  • Carcinoma / classification
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Ki-67 Antigen / analysis*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Ontario
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis
  • Receptors, Progesterone / analysis*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis*

Substances

  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2