Detection of Estrogen Receptors in Oral Mucosa among Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study was conducted in Khartoum state during the period from November 2009 to April 2010. Estrogen receptors (ERs) immunoexpression was evaluated in the oral exfoliative cells obtained from 50 breast cancer patients and 50 apparently healthy females. The ER expression was evaluated by immunocytochemistry using avidin biotin technique on buccal smears fixed in acetone. Of 100 studied subjects no one showed positive expression in oral mucosal cells. However, 40 breast cancer cases were known ER positive in breast tissues. All previous studies detected ER immunoreactivity in oral mucosa were used Immunohistochemical technique on buccal mucosal biopsies. In this study only ERalpha monoclonal antibody were used and, perhaps ERbeta was the only ER expressed in oral mucosa so the AB couldn’t detect it. The majority of breast cancer patients were in age group ranged from 41 to 50 with mean age of 46.5 years old. However the controls were comparatively younger, the mean age was 24.2 years. The gaalya rated first among Sudanese tribes affected by breast cancer. Furthermore, they were expressed ER more frequently than others. This study found a highly significant relationship between contraceptive pills usage and the subsequent development of ER positive breast cancer. Likewise, the presence of family history of breast cancer (P= 0.000). Despite the reported correlation between age at menarche and number of child births as risk factors for breast cancer, the present study suggested that other factors contribute in the development of breast cancer among Sudanese women. Most of cases present with invasive ductal carcinoma and, less with invasive lobular carcinoma. Interestingly, IDC cases showed positive ER immunoexpression more frequently than ILC cases.