Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 17p is associated with HER-2 amplification and lack of nodal involvement in breast cancer.

Sixty DNA samples from breast carcinoma (BC) patients were analyzed by Southern blot to examine certain oncogene and anti-oncogene alterations. Amplification of the HER-2 oncogene was detected in 15 tumours (25%), c-myc in 2 (3%) only and HER-1 in none. Distribution of Hras-1 oncogene alleles in BC did not significantly differ from that seen in healthy donors. Not a single case of RB-1 anti-oncogene alteration and only one of p53 suppressor gene abnormality was found when appropriate cDNA copies were used as probes. With the use of DNA polymorphic markers, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was revealed at chromosome 17p (probe YNZ-22) in 18 of 39 (46%) informative cases, at 17q (probe THH-59) in 10 of 34 (29%) and at 11p (probe Hras-1) in 8 of 30 (27%). The only significant correlation between these genetic alterations and the clinical characteristics of the tumours studied was the association of LOH at 17p with node-negative BC (p < 0.02). Also, the tendency for correlation (p < 0.2) between HER-2 amplification and loss of 17p sequences was revealed: 7 of 10 amplification-positive, but only 11 of 29 amplification-negative BC possessed LOH of YNZ-22 locus.