BACKGROUND: The treatment of Paget's disease of the vulva particularly for recurrences can be challenging. Overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein has been found in about 30% of vulvar Paget's cases therefore presenting a potential therapeutic target. CASE: We report the case of a 52-year-old patient with persistent Paget's disease of the vulva despite eight surgical excisions over a 15-year period. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein in the vulva resection specimen. Treatment with Trastuzumab resulted in a significant regression of her disease and resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Based on our case report, therapeutic targeting of HER-2/neu for patients with Paget's disease of the vulva using for example Trastuzumab is a potentially effective, alternative approach, and warrants further investigation.
BACKGROUND: The treatment of Paget's disease of the vulva particularly for recurrences can be challenging. Overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein has been found in about 30% of vulvar Paget's cases therefore presenting a potential therapeutic target. CASE: We report the case of a 52-year-old patient with persistent Paget's disease of the vulva despite eight surgical excisions over a 15-year period. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated overexpression of the HER-2/neu protein in the vulva resection specimen. Treatment with Trastuzumab resulted in a significant regression of her disease and resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Based on our case report, therapeutic targeting of HER-2/neu for patients with Paget's disease of the vulva using for example Trastuzumab is a potentially effective, alternative approach, and warrants further investigation.
Authors: Henry D Reyes; Kristina W Thiel; Matthew J Carlson; Xiangbing Meng; Shujie Yang; Jean-Marie Stephan; Kimberly K Leslie Journal: Mol Diagn Ther Date: 2014-04 Impact factor: 4.074
Authors: Phillip R Stahl; Jessica Schnellert; Christina Koop; Ronald Simon; Andreas Marx; Jakob R Izbicki; Guido Sauter; Alexander Quaas Journal: Pathol Oncol Res Date: 2015-05-31 Impact factor: 3.201