A Study Protocol on Assessment of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Signalling Pathway as a Predictive Molecular Marker in Triple-Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of Breast

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The Indian scenario is no different for the breast cancer mortality. Breast cancers have occupied the prominence not only for their incidence but the pace too. The researchers have studied numerous pathways vastly and widely in the past two decades to ascertain the prognosis and treatment outcome determinants popularly called predictive markers for breast cancer. One such cell signalling pathway that has raised the hope by assessing success for breast cancer is the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signalling pathway for a molecular subtype of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), which is challenging to treat therapeutically. This study aims to assess the EGFR pathway and its sub pathways in Triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) and correlate the abnormalities of expressions in the EGFR pathway in TNBC for its therapeutic implications. Materials and Methods:  This will be an observational cross-sectional study. Forty cases of TNBC will be selected.  There will be 10 cases each in 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, and 61 years onwards. Cases will undergo histological diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, and Her2neu, IHC for EGFR, BRAF, Kras, and MAP kinase on histological sections, Polymerase chain reaction( PCR) for Kras. Data will be collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: A significant correlation of EGFR, BRAF, KRAS, and MAP kinase is expected in the pathogenesis of triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. Conclusion: The results can be put to the commercial advantage for clinical trials of the new drug development targeting anti-EGFR and other antibodies.