Introduction:Breast cancer is leading cancer in women, and the incidence of breast cancer in India is on the rise. The most common histologic type of breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Prognostic and predictive factors are used in the management of breast cancer. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/neu) are immunohistochemical markers of prognosis as well as predictors of response to therapy.Aims and Objectives:The study was conducted to evaluate ER, PR, and HER2/neu expressions in invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast by immunohistochemistry, to explore the correlation of these markers to each other and to various clinicopathological parameters: age of the patient, histological grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis.Materials and Methods:This prospective study was conducted on 100 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Slides were prepared from blocks containing cancer tissue, and immunohistochemical staining was done for ER, PR, and HER2/neu expressions. Interpretation of expressions was done using Allred scoring system for ER/PR and the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines for HER2/neu. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the statistical significance by applying Chi-square test.Results:Majority of tumors were ER and PR positive and HER2/neu negative. ER and PR correlated significantly with age, tumor size, and tumor grade; whereas, HER2/neu correlated significantly with tumor size only. No association was seen with axillary lymph node metastasis. ER and PR expression correlated with each other, but none correlated with HER2/neu.Conclusions:As the majority of the tumors are ER, PR positive and since ER and PR correlate with each other as well as with age, tumor size, and grade. Therefore, routine assessment of hormone receptors is recommended for prognostic and therapeutic information in breast cancer cases.

BACKGROUND Breast carcinoma is the most common malignant tumour and the leading cause of death in women. Various prognostic and predictive factors are used in the management of breast cancer. Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) & human epidermal growth receptor (HER2/neu) are prognostic as well as predictive factors. The aim of the present study was conducted to evaluate ER, PR & HER2/neu expression in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (not otherwise specified) by immunohistochemistry to explore the correlation of these markers to each other, as well as to various clinicopathological parameters like age of patient, histological grade, tumour size and lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS 100 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (NOS) were taken. Slides were prepared from paraffin blocks containing cancer tissue of these patients & immunohistochemical staining was done for ER, PR, and HER2/neu expressions. Interpretation of expressions done using Allred scoring system for ER/PR & ASCO/CAP guidelines for HER2/neu. Statistical analysis was done to determine the statistical significance by applying chi-square test. RESULTS In our study, mean age was 55.28 years. Average tumour size was 4.3 cm & majority of tumours were grade II. 38 patients had axillary lymph nodes positive for metastasis. 58 cases were both ER & PR positive and 37 cases ER/PR negative. Only 7 were HER2/neu positive & 93 were HER2/neu negative. Only 2 cases were both ER as well as HER2/neu positive, 32 cases were both ER & HER2/neu negative. 66 cases showed different expressions of ER & HER/neu. ER & PR correlated significantly with age, tumour size, and tumour grade; whereas HER2/neu correlated significantly with age & tumour size only. No association was seen with axillary lymph node metastasis. ER and PR expression correlated with each other, but none was correlated with HER2/neu. CONCLUSION Assessment of hormone receptors for clinical management of a breast cancer patient is strongly recommended to provide prognostic information and therapeutic options.

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Background: Prothrombin Time is a measure of the integrity of extrinsic and final common pathways of the coagulation cascade while aPTT is a measure of the integrity of intrinsic and final common pathways of the coagulation cascade.Our study has demonstrated the effect of liver disease on both Prothrombin Time (PT) and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT), and the risk of bleeding in these patients on the basis of these parameters. Aims: To correlate the effect of liver disease on PT&aPTT and to evaluate the risk of bleeding in these patients on the basis of these parameters. Methods: Blood samples of patients with preliminary diagnosis of liver disease were collected in 3.2% sodium citrate (9 parts blood and 1 part sodium citrate). PT was measured using thromboplastin reagent and aPTT was measured using cephaloplastin reagent. Results: Coagulation parameters PT and aPTT are prolonged and platelet counts are decreased more frequently in cases of cirrhosis (chronic liver disease) and less frequently in cases of hepatitis and other liver diseases. Patients of cirrhosis who had prolongation of PT, aPTT or decreased PC had more chances of gastrointestinal bleeding as compared to those who had normal values of these parameters. Conclusion: Coagulation parameters PT and aPTT can be used to predict the amount of damage to synthetic capacity of liver in liver diseases, also to predict the risk of bleeding in case of chronic liver diseases.