Predictive Marker of Disease Activity in Breast Cancer Patients With and Without Metastasis

Background: Levels of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene are low in normal breast tissue, but half of patients with breast cancer have higher levels of this receptor. The different expression levels of the HER2 gene in normal and malignant cells make this gene an excellent biomarker for therapeutic purposes. In this study, we evaluated the degree of HER2 overexpression in patients, its relationship with age and the occurrence of metastases. Methods: In this retrospective, registry-based and two-center cohort study, information of 1500 patients with breast cancer recruited at the Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital in Ilam province was collected during the years 2020 to 2023. Results: The possible of metastasis in cancer patients who had the HER2 gene expression was 3 times higher (adjusted OR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.79 – 3.29; P=0.001). Also, Nodes involved (adjusted OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 0.87 – 3.79; P=0.03) was significantly associated with increased metastasis. Conclusion: This study showed that the significant prognostic factor of the number of involved lymph nodes and HER2 gene expression is known as a factor that increases the risk of metastasis. Therefore, creating a background for breast cancer screenings can be an important factor for the treatment of the disease and the prevention of metastasis in breast cancer patients.