Her-2/neu expression in prostate cancer: a dynamic process?

The clinical effects of targeting Her-2/neu in prostate carcinoma are not known. This study explores the feasibility of molecular profiling to determine the correlation between Her-2/neu expression and hormonal sensitivity. Patients with progressive androgen-independent prostate carcinoma were eligible to participate in the study. Her-2/neu expression was assessed on pretreatment tissue specimens and on bone marrow obtained in progressive androgen-independent disease. Her-2/neu expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and by fluorescence in situ hybridization in a consecutive series of 26 progressive androgen-independent prostate cancer patients. Twenty four bone marrow biopsy specimens and 16 prostate biopsies from 26 patients were analyzed. These biopsies were categorized by androgen sensitivity at the time of the biopsy. In total, 90% of specimens from bone marrow were Her-2/neu positive, and 10% of the specimens were Her-2/neu negative. Of the prostate biopsies, all were from patients with androgen-dependent disease. Three of 13 androgen-dependent prostate biopsies (23%) overexpressed Her-2/neu. Of the 10 tumor samples analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, genomic amplification of the Her-2/neu locus was not detected in any of the metastatic prostate tumors. Her-2/neu expression varies with the clinical state of patients with prostate carcinoma: Accurate Her-2/neu profiling requires sampling metastatic tissue in patients with metastatic disease. Her-2/neu sampling from metastatic prostate carcinoma is not feasible until more reliable and practical methods can be developed.