October - December 2009, Volume 5, Issue 4

Raica M, Muresan AM, Cimpean AM, Suciu C

Clinical significance of androgen receptor expression in breast cancer

Acta Endo (Buc) 2009, 5 (4): 459-469
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2009.459

Background. Androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of\r\nmammary tissue. In the present study we investigated the immunohistochemical expression\r\nof AR in breast cancer and its relationships with clinico-pathological parameters of\r\nprognosis, hormone receptors status and HER2 overexpression.\r\nMethods. There were investigated 124 patients admitted with invasive breast cancer,\r\nand from these 48 had lymph node metastasis and 9 had distant metastasis. In all specimens\r\nthere were performed immunohistochemical staining for AR, estrogen receptors (ER),\r\nprogesterone receptor (PR) and HER2. Results were correlated with pathological findings\r\nand the molecular profile of the tumors.\r\nResults. The immunohistochemical expression for AR was found in 92 cases. A\r\nsignificant correlation was found between AR expression and pathological type, grade and\r\nlymph node status, but not with distant metastasis and the expression of ER, PR and HER2.\r\nAn inverse correlation was found between AR expression and triple negative breast cancers.\r\nConclusion. Our data suggest that AR is an individual factor of prognosis and is a\r\nuseful marker to stratify patients with triple negative tumors. AR could be a potential target\r\nfor specific therapy in individuals excluded from the conventional hormone therapy.

Keywords: androgen receptor, breast cancer, immunohistochemistry, molecular\r\nclassification, prognosis

Correspondence: Marius Raica, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy,\r\nDepartment of Histology and Molecular Pathology, Pta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041, Timisoara,\r\nRomania, Tel +40-256-204476 / 1484, Fax +40-256-490626 E-mail: raica@umft.ro