Abstract
Purpose Altered glycosylation has been associated with oncogenic potential. Relationships of blood types (where expression is due to glycosylation pattern) and HER2/neu (where expression arises due to altered glycosylation) and breast cancer-associated markers like estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) were examined and related to outcomes in patients with breast cancer.
Methods A population-based retrospective study of 426 surgical breast cancer patients examined relationships between 1) patient characteristics, 2) breast tumor characteristics, and 3) outcomes of women diagnosed at the same medical center over a 10-year period relative to specific molecules defined by glycosylation patterns (eg. blood group, HER2/neu,) and 4) ER/PR status.
Results Following stratification by blood group subjects exhibited significant differences only in tumor size with persons with blood group A and B having greater numbers of tumors ≤ 2cm and those with blood AB and O having tumors >2cm. After adjusting for age, disease stage, and treatment with trastuzumab, tamoxifen, or aromatase inhibitors, no significant differences were observed in 5-year overall and disease-free survival based on blood type grouping. Blood group B was overrepresented among the breast cancer cohort compared to the reference population, while blood group AB was under-represented.
Conclusion No significant differences were observed in overall and disease-free survival based on blood group. No correlation was noted between HER2/neu, ER or PR status, and blood group type. Among this cohort, HER2/neu positivity was less than 20% and correlated with a 5-year disease free survival rate ≥ 75% and overall survival of >80% across all blood groups.
- Received December 21, 2009.
- Revision received October 14, 2010.
- Revision received December 29, 2010.
- Accepted January 5, 2011.
