J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Mar;26(3):352-359. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.352.

The Expression of ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 in Breast Cancer According to the Immunohistochemical Phenotypes

• Kim D
• Jung W
• Koo JS

• KMID: 2157871
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.352

Abstract

We studied the expression of BRCA1, ERCC1, and RRM1 which play an important role in DNA repair systems in breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for EGFR, BRCA1, ERCC1, and RRM1 were performed by using a tissue microarray made from 230 breast cancer patients. Patients were classified into luminal A, luminal B, HER-2, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) types according to ER, PR, and HER-2 expression. The expression of ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 were correlated (P < 0.05). The expression level of ERCC1 was the lowest in TNBC type (P = 0.031), ERCC1 negativity was more prominent in TNBC and luminal B groups than luminal A and HER-2 groups (P = 0.013). Cases with EGFR overexpression showed high expression of RRM1 and BRCA1 (P = 0.046, and 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, the expression of ERCC1 is particularly lower in TNBCs than other types of breast cancers.

Keyword

Breast Neoplasms; ERCC1; RRM1; BRCA1

MeSH Terms

Adult
BRCA1 Protein/*genetics/metabolism
Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology
DNA Repair
DNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics/metabolism
Disease-Free Survival
Endonucleases/*genetics/metabolism
Female
Gene Expression
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Middle Aged
Phenotype
Prognosis
Protein Array Analysis
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/genetics/metabolism
Tumor Markers, Biological/*genetics/metabolism
Tumor Suppressor Proteins/*genetics/metabolism

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 EGFR, ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 immunohistochemistry result according to breast cancer phenotype. EGFR overexpression is noted in TNBC and HER-2 type. ERCC1 negativity is observed in TNBC and luminal B.

• 

  Fig. 2 Correlation among ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 expressions.

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