What is the Prognostic Profile?

This is an analysis performed on the breast cancer to determine specific characteristics which may offer some indication of the behavior/biology of the breast cancer removed. Physicians use this information to determine if there may be a role for chemotherapy after surgery has been performed.  This process is carried out in the laboratory and evaluates for the presence of receptors for hormones and for other features that might suggest an aggressive tumor growth pattern and if there may be a role for other forms of targeted therapy. This profile usually includes information about hormone and her2-Neu receptors:

 An estrogen receptor is an area located on the surface of a breast tumor cell which can bind hormones/estrogen. The attachment or binding of estrogen by such a tumor cell can lead to the growth and spread of the breast cancer.  

Right - Tamoxifen is one drug that interacts with estrogen receptors. When it binds to estrogen receptors, further tumor growth is prevented. When estrogen binds to the estrogen receptor, more tumor cells grow. A similar thing happens with a progesterone receptor.

A progesterone receptor is an area located on the surface of a breast tumor cell that can bind progesterone/hormones.  The attachment of progesterone can lead to the growth and spread of the breast cancer.

   

A Her2/neu receptor (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is an area located on the external surface of the tumor cell in about a quarter of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.  When this receptor region is over expressed on a tumor cell, a strong signal can be sent to the nucleus inside of the tumor side to divide and grow and spread to distant areas of the body.

Right - The presence of the Her2/neu receptor indicates rapid tumor growth and a high risk of recurrence. When the drug Herceptin® (trastuzumab) binds to a Her2/neu receptor, the chance of tumor recurrence is reduced significantly.

S-Phase & Ki67 are markers that are included in the prognostic profile report which can help with estimating how fast or slow a tumor might be growing (tumor biology/behavior).