Association between HER2/neu overexpression and calcifications in breast cancer

579 Background: HER-2/neu overexpression is an important parameter that influences prognosis and treatment for breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between HER-2/neu overexpression and calcifications identified by either mammographic imaging or histologic examination. Methods: A retrospective review of the prospectively collected database was performed to evaluate the mammographic and histologic characteristics of all cases of invasive breast cancers diagnosed between 2003 and 2008. HER-2/neu positivity was defined as either overexpression by FISH analysis or 3+ staining on immunohistochemistry. Results: Of 502 invasive cancers, 165 (33%) had calcifications on mammography and 337 (67%) did not. HER-2/neu positivity was found in 63 (38%) of the calcification cases and 40 (12%) of the non-calcified cases (p < 0.001). This association persisted across all age groups and races and was independent of tumor size, nodal status, or hormone receptor status. Calcifications seen hi...