BACKGROUND: The most commonly used methods for detecting HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer are immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in-situ hybridization. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess HER2 expression by real-time RT-PCR. MATERIAL/ METHODS: Expression of HER2 was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in specimens of invasive ductal breast cancer tissue obtained from 131 women during radical mastectomy. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in mean relative gene expression between HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients as assessed by immunostaining (22.10+/-41.89 vs. 3.17+/-8.76; p<0.001). With a median follow-up of 56 months, the cancer-specific survival of HER2-positive patients assessed by RT-PCR was worse in all cases and in the node-positive group. In multivariate analysis, HER2 status was an independent prognostic factor in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time RT-PCR is a valuable method for determining HER2 status, but the selection of the cut-off point of the relative gene expression differentiating between HER2-negative and -positive tumors is essential.
BACKGROUND: The most commonly used methods for detecting HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer are immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in-situ hybridization. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess HER2 expression by real-time RT-PCR. MATERIAL/ METHODS: Expression of HER2 was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in specimens of invasive ductal breast cancer tissue obtained from 131 women during radical mastectomy. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference in mean relative gene expression between HER2-positive and HER2-negative patients as assessed by immunostaining (22.10+/-41.89 vs. 3.17+/-8.76; p<0.001). With a median follow-up of 56 months, the cancer-specific survival of HER2-positive patients assessed by RT-PCR was worse in all cases and in the node-positive group. In multivariate analysis, HER2 status was an independent prognostic factor in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time RT-PCR is a valuable method for determining HER2 status, but the selection of the cut-off point of the relative gene expression differentiating between HER2-negative and -positive tumors is essential.
Authors: Ayuko A Iverson; Cheryl Gillett; Paul Cane; Christopher D Santini; Thomas M Vess; Lauren Kam-Morgan; Alice Wang; Marcia Eisenberg; Charles M Rowland; Janice J Hessling; Samuel E Broder; John J Sninsky; Andrew Tutt; Steven Anderson; Sheng-Yung P Chang Journal: J Mol Diagn Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 5.568
Authors: Sara Santos; Cláudia S Baptista; Rui M V Abreu; Estela Bastos; Irina Amorim; Ivo G Gut; Fátima Gärtner; Raquel Chaves Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-12-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Antonio C Wolff; M Elizabeth H Hammond; David G Hicks; Mitch Dowsett; Lisa M McShane; Kimberly H Allison; Donald C Allred; John M S Bartlett; Michael Bilous; Patrick Fitzgibbons; Wedad Hanna; Robert B Jenkins; Pamela B Mangu; Soonmyung Paik; Edith A Perez; Michael F Press; Patricia A Spears; Gail H Vance; Giuseppe Viale; Daniel F Hayes Journal: Arch Pathol Lab Med Date: 2013-10-07 Impact factor: 5.534