HER2 amplification in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: correlation of two antibodies using gastric cancer scoring criteria, H score, and digital image analysis with fluorescence in situ hybridization

Am J Clin Pathol. 2012 Apr;137(4):583-94. doi: 10.1309/AJCPXQVS6YGHPDCY.

Abstract

We assessed 103 resected gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas for HER2 amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 2 commercial immunohistochemical assays. Of 103, 30 (29%) were FISH-amplified. Both immunohistochemical assays had greater than 95% concordance with FISH. However, as a screening test for FISH amplification, the Ventana Medical Systems (Tucson, AZ) 4B5 antibody demonstrated superior sensitivity (87%) compared with the DAKO (Carpinteria, CA) A0485 (70%). Of the cases, 28 were immunohistochemically 3+ or immunohistochemically 2+/FISH-amplified with the 4B5 assay compared with only 22 cases with the A0485 assay, representing a large potential difference in patient eligibility for anti-HER2 therapy. Cases with low-level FISH amplification (HER2/CEP17, 2.2-4.0) express lower levels of HER2 protein compared with cases with high-level amplification (HER2/CEP17, ≥4.0), raising the possibility of a differential response to anti-HER2 therapy. The H score and digital image analysis may have a limited role in improving HER2 test performance.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2