HER-2 protein overexpressing breast cancer without gene amplification shows higher hormone receptor expression than HER-2 protein overexpressing breast cancer with gene amplification

Int J Surg Pathol. 2011 Aug;19(4):425-32. doi: 10.1177/1066896909335821. Epub 2009 Aug 10.

Abstract

Cases of breast cancer showing human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) protein overexpression without corresponding gene amplification have been found in immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) results. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of cases showing HER-2 protein overexpression breast cancer without gene amplification (IHC3+/FISH-) and compared them to cases showing HER-2 protein overexpression breast cancer with gene amplification (IHC3+/FISH+). This study was conducted on 90 patients with HER-2 IHC3+ breast cancer. The clinicopathological factors analyzed included tumor size, histological grade, nuclear grade, nodal involvement, and hormone receptor status. HER-2 IHC3+/FISH- breast cancer was found in 14 of 84 tumors (16.7%) and showed a statistically significant lower histological and nuclear grade (P = .000) and higher expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) (P = .006) than IHC3+/FISH+ breast cancer. In conclusion, HER-2 IHC3+/FISH- breast cancer could be a subgroup showing lower histological/nuclear grade and higher expression of ERs/PRs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / secondary
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2