An Association Between Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 and Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is a momentous health problem worldwide. Prostate cancer in Sudan is the third most common cancer type. The role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) in prostatic tumors is still not fully understood. The findings of studies testing the association between HER2/neu expression and prostate cancer have been inconsistent.

Objectives: To demonstrate the association between ages, epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and prostate cancer.

Design: Retrospective.

Settings: Sudan University for Science and Technology and National Health Laboratory (NHL) in Khartoum state Republic of Sudan.

Patients and methods: Two paraffin sections were taken, one stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin to confirm the diagnosis, the other stained using primary antibodies to HER2 protein with immunohistochemistry method using the DAKO Hercep Test^TM protocol.

Sample size: Forty-six paraffin blocks were included in this study; 36 specimens were medium-grade and high-grade cancers and ten specimens were low-grade cancer.

Results: The mean age of the study group was 64 years. Prostatic cancer grades revealed, 10 (21.7%) patients with Gleason Group = 3 + 3, 2 (4.3%) patients with Gleason Group = 3 + 4, 11 (23.9%) patients with Gleason Group = 4 + 3, and 23 (50%) patients with Gleason Group = 4 + 4. Positive Her2 was found to be associated with high-grade (GG8) and medium-grade (GG7) compared to low-grade prostatic cancer (GG6).

Conclusions: The current study was a clue for a possible association between HER2/neu and prostatic cancer, and further studies might elucidate this connection.