Prognostic Significance of Cellular Iron Metabolism in Breast Cancer

Rizwan Ullah  Khan; Amber  Hassan; Imrana  Tanvir; Kashifa  Ehsan

doi:10.52229/pbmj.v1i1.35

Authors

Rizwan Ullah Khan Pathology Department, Prince Faisal Cancer Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Amber Hassan Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Imrana Tanvir Pathology Department, King Abdul Aziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
Kashifa Ehsan Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Sheikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52229/pbmj.v1i1.35

Abstract

Breast carcinoma is among the most common malignancy in women. Objective:Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of iron expression in the biopsies of patients with breast cancer. Methods: 24 breast biopsies were studied. 19 cases were poorly differentiated, 5 cases were moderately differentiated and there was no well differentiated case. Iron, Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR), HER2 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical staining was performed for all these cases. Results: Among the 5 moderately differentiated cases, 3 (60%) were positive for iron staining and among 19 poorly differentiated cases, 11 cases (57.89%) were positive. More iron positive cases (7 out of 14) were triple positive belonging to Luminal B class. Out of 14 iron positive cases, 11 were positive for HER2, 10 for ER, 9 for PR and all positive for Ki-67. Conclusions:Iron deficiency in premenopausal and overload in post-menopausal women can contribute to the development of breast carcinoma. So, iron can be considered as a cheap and effective marker for the prognosis of breast cancer.Association between a risein iron levels and HER2 expression may providenewstrategy for breast cancer treatment.

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