Clinicopathological implication of HER-2/neu protein expression and gene amplication in esophageal carcinoma

目的:检测食管癌组织中HER-2/neu蛋白表达及其基因扩增情况,并探讨其与食管癌患者临床病理指标的关系.方法:回顾性分析2000～ 2006年武汉大学人民医院收治的167例食管癌患者的临床资料.采用免疫组织化学和荧光原位杂交方法检测167例食管癌患者癌组织中HER-2/neu蛋白表达及基因扩增情况.结果:食管癌组织中HER-2/neu蛋白表达水平与基因扩增存在一定相关性(P＜0.05),HER-2/neu蛋白的表达与食管癌分化程度和临床分期有关系(P＜0.05),而HER-2/neu基因扩增仅与食管癌临床分期有关系(P＜0.05).HER-2/neu蛋白过表达和基因扩增阳性均可缩短食管癌患者的生存期(P＜0.05).结论:HER-2/neu蛋白过表达及基因扩增可能是食管癌患者的一个预后指标,联合检测HER-2/neu蛋白表达水平及基因扩增程度对于食管癌的靶向治疗可能具有一定指导意义.     

乳腺癌HER-2基因扩增与HER-2neu蛋白表达的一致性及其与临床病理特征的关系

目的探讨乳腺癌HER-2基因扩增与HER-2neu蛋白表达的一致性及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法收集80例乳腺癌患者的组织标本进行检测,采用荧光标记原位杂交(FISH)与免疫组织化学法(IHC法)检测Her-2基因扩增与蛋白表达情况,并分析其与ER、PR表达、肿瘤大小等之间的关系。结果对乳腺癌HER-2基因扩增与HER-2neu蛋白表达的一致性进行检测和统计,可得-/+的FISH与IHC的符合率为12.50%(2/16)、++的符合率为48.94%(23/47)、+++的符合率为58.82%(10/17),统计可得结果存在一致性,且结果之间存在正相关关系,P<0.05。ER、PR、ER/PR表达状态与癌HER-2基因扩增之间存在统计学差异(P<0.05),其中ER表达与HER-2基因扩增与HER-2neu蛋白表达之间呈现出负相关关系(P<0.05),PR、ER/PR表达状态与HER-2基因扩增之间呈现出负相关关系(P<0.05);肿瘤大小与HER-2neu蛋白表达之间呈现出正相关关系(P<0.05);其余病理情况,包括患者年龄等则与HER-2基因扩增以及HER-2neu蛋白表达之间无关系,P均>0.05。结论乳腺癌HER-2基因扩增与HER-2neu蛋白表达存在良好的一致性,并与临床病理之间存在一定的关系。     

胃腺癌组织HER-2/neu基因表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨胃腺癌HER-2/neu基因表达与临床病理参数和术后5年生存率的关系。方法:显色原位杂交(CISH)检测55例胃腺癌组织HER-2/neu基因表达。结果:55例胃腺癌组织HER-2/neu基因扩增5例(阳性率9.09%);阳性病例组织学类型均为肠型胃癌(Lauren分型);HER-2/neu基因扩增患者生存率明显低于HER-2/neu基因不扩增患者(P=0.019)。结论:HER-2/neu基因是导致胃腺癌术后5年生存率降低的重要因子,显色原位杂交法检测胃腺癌中HER-2/neu基因扩增状态,可指导trastuzumab靶向治疗胃腺癌。     

HER-2/neu（2+）腔面型乳腺癌的HER-2基因扩增与TopⅡα蛋白及临床特征的关联性分析

目的：分析HER-2基因扩增与腔面型HER-2/neu（2+）乳腺浸润性导管癌的临床病理特征及TopⅡα蛋白的关系。方法运用FISH检测手段对68例雌激素受体（ER）/孕激素受体（PR）阳性的腔面型HER-2/neu（2+）乳腺浸润性导管癌标本进行检测;应用免疫组化法（IHC）对68例标本进行TopⅡα蛋白表达检测。结果 FISH检测结果显示,68例标本中,HER-2基因扩增为13例（19.1%）;HER-2基因扩增在不同年龄、术后病理分期、淋巴结转移数目、Ki-67表达的患者之间差异无统计学意义;HER-2基因扩增病例中,TopⅡαⅠ级6例（46.2%）,Ⅱ级6例（46.2%）,Ⅲ级1例（7.7%）,Ⅳ级0例。TopⅡα蛋白表达情况在有无HER-2基因扩增的乳腺癌间差异无统计学意义（Z=1.353,P=0.176）。结论在HER-2/neu（2+）腔面型乳腺癌中,HER-2基因扩增与年龄、术后病理分期、淋巴结转移数目、Ki-67表达和TopⅡα蛋白表达无关。     

DcR3和HER-2/neu在60例大肠癌中表达及临床意义

[目的]探讨DcR3和HER-2/neu在大肠癌中的表达及与大肠癌的相关性。[方法]应用免疫组化法分别检测正常大肠组织（n=10）、大肠癌组织（n=60）中DcR3和HER-2/neu的表达情况,分析两者表达与大肠癌临床病理特征的关系。[结果]正常大肠组织中DcR3和HER-2/neu蛋白无表达。大肠癌组织中DcR3蛋白阳性表达率58.33%,DcR3蛋白的表达与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、肿瘤部位、浸润深度等无关（P〉0.05）,与分化程度、淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关（P〈0.05）。大肠癌组织中HER-2/neu蛋白阳性表达率63.33%,HER-2/neu蛋白的表达与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、肿瘤部位等无关（P〉0.05）,与浸润深度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移和分化程度有关（P〈0.05）。大肠癌中DcR3表达与HER-2/neu表达呈正相关（r=0.3781,P〈0.05）。[结论]大肠癌中DcR3和HER-2/neu高表达,DcR3、HER-2/neu表达可能与肿瘤的恶性程度和恶性生物学行为有关。     

鼻咽癌患者HER-2/neu基因扩增和表达及其临床意义

目的：研究鼻咽癌HER-2／neu基因扩增、表达及其临床意义。方法：采用原位荧光杂交、逆转录多聚链式反应和免疫组化技术检测鼻咽癌组织HER-2／neu基因扩增、表达。结果：HER-2／neu基因在鼻咽癌中无扩增，但有过表达，其原因是由于mRNA高表达所致；这种过表达与鼻咽癌预后之间未显示有相关性。结论：HER-2／neu基因在鼻咽癌无扩增，有过表达，这种过表达未显示预后意义。     

PTEN和HER-2／neu在上皮性卵巢癌组织中的表达及相关性

目的探讨卵巢癌组织中PTEN和HER-2／neu的表达与肿瘤行为的关系及意义。方法采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测了158例卵巢癌，20例卵巢良性肿瘤和20例正常卵巢组织中PTEN蛋白和HER-2／neu的表达。结果卵巢癌组织PTEN阳性率（34．18％）明显低于正常卵巢组织（90．00％）和卵巢良性肿瘤组织（80．00％）。卵巢癌组织HER-2／neu过表达率显著高于卵巢正常组织和卵巢良性肿瘤（P〈0．01）。卵巢癌组织中PTEN阳性表达强度与HER-2／neu过表达强度存在显著的负相关。PTEN、HER-2／neu阳性率与卵巢癌的组织分化程度、病理分期有关。结论PTEN蛋白表达的缺失和HER-2／neu过表达可能导致细胞增殖失控，与卵巢癌的发生、发展有关。     

卵巢癌HER-2／neu基因表达的临床意义

目的:评价卵巢癌HER-2/neu表达的临床意义及对近期化疗效果的影响。方法:免疫组织化学ABC法检测49例卵巢癌HER-2/neu的表达。结果:1.卵巢癌HER-2/neu表达的阳性率为75.5％,表达阳性者的近期化疗有效率为24.3％,明显低于表达阴性者的近期化疗有效率75.0％(P<0.005)。2.HER-2/neu的表达与卵巢癌分化程度和临床分期密切相关(P<0.01,P<0.005)。3.HER-2/neu过表达的肿瘤具有远位转移的更大风险。结论:卵巢癌HER-2/neu的过表达明显影响近期化疗效果,并可能是其预后不良的肿瘤标志。     

HER2/neu基因扩增和蛋白表达与晚期胃癌患者预后的关系

背景与目的:有证据表明胃癌患者HER2/neu过表达与预后不良及高侵袭性相关,本研究旨在探求HER2/neu表达与晚期胃癌患者临床特征,尤其是与生存期的关系。方法:回顾性分析2006～2008年中国医学科学院肿瘤医院收治的83例晚期胃癌患者的临床资料。应用免疫组化(IHC)和荧光原位杂交(FISH)法检测83例患者的HER2/neu表达情况。数据分析采用SPSS13.0统计软件,生存分析应用Kaplan-Meier法,生存率比较采用log-rank检验。结果:83例患者中位年龄60岁,男女比例为2.95:1。存在HER2/neu蛋白过表达(2+和3+)和基因扩增的患者分别为25例(30.1%)和29例(34.9%)。存在HER2/neu蛋白过表达和基因扩增的晚期胃癌患者往往预后不佳。无HER2/neu基因扩增的晚期胃癌患者中位生存期12.6个月,而有基因扩增者中位生存期仅5.5个月。结论:HER2/neu的表达情况对判断晚期胃癌预后有一定临床意义。     

色素原位杂交法和免疫组织化学法检测乳腺癌HER-2基因扩增及蛋白表达

目的:对照色素原位杂交法(chromogenic in situ hybridization,CISH)和免疫组织化学法(immuno-histochemistry,IHC)检测乳腺癌组织中人表皮生长因子受体(human epidermal growth factor receptor-2,HER-2)基因扩增及其蛋白表达的状况.方法:采用CISH技术检测145例乳腺癌组织中HER-2的基因扩增情况,其中14例标本经过荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in si-tu hybridization,FISH)检测,随后分别用FISH和IHC方法检测的HER-2基因扩增及蛋白表达状况与之进行回顾性对照,并按照病理分级、淋巴结状态、绝经与否和雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)/孕激素受体(progesterone receptor,PR)表达情况进行分层,分析HER-2表达与乳腺癌各高危因素之间的关系.结果:CISH检测发现,HER-2无扩增71例(50.0%),低扩增11例(7.6%),高扩增63例(43.4%).14例FISH与CISH检测结果比较,符合率为100.0%.145例IHC与CISH检测结果的符合率为84.8%(P<0.05).在IHC检测积分为0/ 以及 的病例中,HER-2基因扩增与蛋白表达情况基本一致,其符合率均在90%以上;而在IHC检测积分为 的标本中,HER-2基因扩增率仅为61.1%.CISH及IHC检测均显示ER/PR表达情况与HER-2阳性呈负相关,ER和PR均为阴性患者的HER-2基因扩增率和蛋白表达率明显高于ER/PR阳性的患者(CISH:68.3%vs 38.8%,P<0.01;IHC:71.7%vs 48.2%,P<0.01).HER-2状态与乳腺癌病理分级、腋淋巴结转移以及绝经与否无关(P>0.05).结论:CISH技术检测HER-2操作简便,准确性高,可以代替FISH技术,对IHC评分为 的病例应进一步确认HER-2状态.HER-2除了与ER/PR表达相关外,与其他乳腺癌高危因素无关,可作为独立指标进行检测.     

Gene amplification and protein overexpression of HER-2/neu in human extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma as detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry: its prognostic implication in node-positive patients.

BACKGROUND: In cholangiocarcinoma (CC), HER-2/neu protein overexpression has rarely been reported and the results are conflicting. The present study aimed to clarify the rates of HER-2/neu protein overexpression and gene amplification in human extrahepatic CC and to evaluate the correlation between HER-2/neu and several clinicopathologic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated HER-2 gene amplification by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and HER-2/neu protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry in 55 extrahepatic CC patients who underwent curative surgery at our institution. RESULTS: Overexpression of HER-2/neu protein (staining intensity score > or = 2) was found in 16 out of 55 patients (29.1%). CISH revealed that HER-2 gene signals were increased in 10 out of 55 patients (18.1%). There was a positive and significant correlation between HER-2 gene amplification and HER-2/neu protein overexpression (Spearman's rho = 0.718, P < 0.01). In subgroup with lymph node metastases, HER-2 gene amplification by CISH was significant prognostic factor for survival (OR 43.6, 95% confidence interval 1.6-1219.6). CONCLUSIONS: HER-2/neu protein overexpression by HER-2 gene amplification may occur in human extrahepatic CC and constitute an independent prognostic factor in patients with lymph node metastases. In subgroup with lymph node metastases who exhibit HER-2/neu overexpression might constitute potential candidates for new adjuvant therapy, such as humanized monoclonal antibodies.     

Lack of prognostic implications of HER-2/neu abnormalities in 345 stage I non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLC) and 207 stage I-III neuroendocrine tumours (NET) of the lung

HER-2/neu oncogene activation by either gene amplification and/or protein overexpression has been documented in several human malignancies. Irrespective of protein overexpression, HER-2/neu gene amplification is rare in lung cancer and studies on its prevalence and clinicopathological implications in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NCSLC) and neuroendocrine tumours (NET) of the lung are lacking. We evaluated HER-2/neu abnormalities in 345 Stage I NSCLC and 207 Stage I-III NET of the lung of all the diverse histological types, by using immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization in selected cases. Overall, HER-2/neu immunoreactivity was detected in 23% of 345 NSCLC and in 7% of 207 NET. Gene amplification was seen in only 7 (7.4%) of the immunoreactive tumours, with high-level amplification (HER-2/neu gene to chromosome 17 ratio > 4.0) in 3 adenocarcinomas, 1 squamous-cell carcinoma and 1 large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), and low-level amplification (HER-2/neu gene to chromosome 17 ratio from 2.0 to 4.0) in 1 squamous-cell carcinoma and 1 LCNEC. None of tested carcinoids and SCLC showed gene amplification. All but 1 gene amplified case exhibited 2+ or 3+ membrane labeling. No relationship was found between gene amplification or protein overexpression and patients' survival or other clinicopathological variables. HER-2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression are not closely correlated in lung carcinomas and do not bear any prognostic implication. Among neuroendocrine tumours, LCNEC show a slightly higher prevalence of either HER-2/neu gene amplification or protein overexpression.     

Characterization of the HER-2/neu oncogene by immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The role of HER-2/neu in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck is not well defined. The purpose of the current study is to measure the frequency of HER-2/neu expression, to demonstrate HER-2/neu gene amplification in the cases found to be positive for protein overexpression, and to investigate the prognostic significance of overexpression and/or amplification in SCC of the head and neck. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A cohort of 77 patients with SCC of the oral cavity or oropharynx, with stage III or IV disease and uniformly treated with surgical resection and postoperative radiation, served as the primary patient population for the study. Of these, 56 patients had adequate follow-up and paraffin-embedded specimens available for analysis. Median follow-up was 6.1 years. Each of the paraffin-embedded specimens were immunohistochemically stained for HER-2/neu expression and graded for intensity of staining by a pathologist. All cases that demonstrated positive staining by immunohistochemistry were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to assess HER-2/neu amplification status. RESULTS: Five-year survival for the 56 evaluable patients was 40%, with 25% experiencing local relapse, 18% regional relapse, and 25% distant relapse. The percentage of tumors staining positive for HER-2/neu by immunohistochemistry was 17%. There was no statistically significant correlation between HER-2/neu and T stage, N stage, tumor grade, survival, or disease-free survival. HER-2/neu expression did correlate with vascular endothelial growth factor expression. FISH analysis revealed four cases that were amplified for HER-2/neu. Of note, of the 4 amplified cases, 2 suffered regional relapse, 1 suffered distant metastasis, and all 4 expired by 5 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration of HER-2/neu gene amplification by FISH in SCC of the head and neck. FISH validates a previously contested controversial role for HER-2/neu gene overexpression in SCC of the head and neck. The prognostic significance and clinical implications of HER-2/neu expression and amplification in head and neck cancer will require additional studies.     

乳腺癌组织CDC6表达及其临床意义的研究

目的：研究细胞分裂周期蛋白6（cell division cycle 6,CDC6）在乳腺癌组织中的表达与人类表皮生长因子受体2（HER2／neu）基因扩增、临床病理学特征及预后的相关性。方法：收集2013-01-01-2013-03-31天津医科大学肿瘤医院乳腺病理研究室进行HER2／neuFISH检测的原发性乳腺癌蜡块标本120例和2005～01-01-2005-04-30有临床随访资料的乳腺癌标本195例,并选取同期30例乳腺小叶增生病例作为良性对照。采用免疫组织化学染色法（IHC）检测癌组织中CDC6的表达情况并分析其与HER2／neu基因扩增和临床病理学特征及术后随访资料的相关性。结果：120例IDc-NOs标本中,CDC6阴性表达25例（20．8％）,阳性表达95例（79．2％）;CDC6阴性表达组HER2／neu基因扩增12例（48．0％）,CDC6阳性表达组HER2／neu基因扩增74例（77．9％）。CDC6表达与HER2／neu基因扩增呈明显正相关,r=0．242,P=0．008。乳腺癌组织中cDC6阳性表达率为77．4％（151／195）,明显高于乳腺小叶增生组织的60．0％（18／30）,差异有统计学意义,z=-2．052,P=0．040。CDC6表达与肿瘤大小（P=0．025）、组织学分级（P=0．021）、pT-NM分期（P=0．023）、HER2／neu表达水平（P=0．022）和Ki-67表达水平（P=0．003）均呈正相关。CDC6的表达与乳腺癌患者的累计无病生存（cumulative disease-free survival,DFS）时间呈负相关,P=0．020。结论：CDC6是与HER2／neu基因扩增和蛋白表达正相关的蛋白,其表达与乳腺癌细胞增殖有关,并且提示预后不良,有望成为乳腺癌治疗的新靶点。     

Amplification of c-erbB2 oncogene: a major prognostic indicator in uterine serous papillary carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor type II receptor HER-2/neu has been associated with resistance to chemotherapy and poor survival in several human tumors. In the current study, the authors have determined the frequency and clinical significance of HER-2/neu gene amplification in uterine serous papillary endometrial carcinoma (USPC), a highly aggressive variant of endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was used to analyze gene amplification in paraffin blocks from 30 women harboring Stage IA-IV USPC treated at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, AR) from 1997 to 2004. Chromosome 17 polysomy status by FISH was also assessed in all specimens. USPC patient survival in relation to HER-2/neu gene amplification was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves in conjunction with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Amplification of the HER-2/neu gene by FISH was observed in 14 of the 30 (47%) cases. Heterogeneity was noted in 4 of 14 cases in the amplification of the HER-2/neu gene within the same tumor samples with pockets of amplified tumor cells amidst nonamplified tumor cells. Patients with USPC harboring tumors with HER-2/neu gene amplification had a significantly shorter survival time from diagnosis to disease-related death when compared with FISH-negative patients (P = 0.0008). African-American (AA) patients were found to have a poorer prognosis compared with Caucasian (C) women (P = 0.01) and to harbor USPC with significantly higher levels of HER-2/neu gene amplification (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: HER-2/neu gene amplification in USPC was found to be an important prognostic indicator for poor outcome that occurs more frequently in AA when compared with C patients. Determination of HER-2/neu gene amplification may guide clinical management of patients with USPC and may have important implications for the implementation of novel treatment strategies.     

No Strong Association Between HER-2/neu Protein Overexpression and Gene Amplification in High-grade Invasive Urothelial Carcinomas

The generation of urothelial carcinoma is caused by the accumulation of various molecular changes, as in most malignancies. There are conflicting data about the status of HER-2/neu oncogene in urothelial carcinomas. The aim of this study was to determine the status of HER-2/neu oncogene in high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder both in protein and DNA level. We evaluated HER-2/neu protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative PCR in paraffin-embedded samples of high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma obtained from 36 patients. Polysomy 17 was also assessed by FISH. Immunohistochemically, HER-2/neu protein overexpression was observed in 22 (61.1%) tumors (ten tumors with score 3+ and 12 with score 2+). Fourteen of 36 tumors (38.9%) were evaluated as negative (score 0 or 1+). Complete concordance between FISH and the PCR was seen in all of the samples scored as 0 and 1+ by IHC. HER-2/neu gene amplification was observed in three of 27 (11.1%) tumors by FISH (nine samples were non-informative) and in eight of 36 (22.2%) tumors by the PCR. The complete concordance between HER2-2/neu protein overexpression and gene amplification was seen only in three of 27 tumors. Polysomy 17 was seen in nine tumors (33.3%). The results indicated that, in contrast to breast cancer, there was no strong association between HER-2/neu overexpression and gene amplification in invasive urothelial carcinomas, and polysomy 17 was higher in tumors showing HER-2/neu overexpression.     

HER-2/neu in bladder carcinoma

A total of 66 bladder cancer patients were studied to verify possible relationships between HER-2/neu alterations and pathological characteristics, and to define a poor prognosis patient subgroup with respect to time to recurrence, time to progression and survival. Tumor and healthy tissue specimens were analyzed for HER-2/neu DNA amplification and protein overexpression by Southern and Western blot techniques and evaluated statistically. 13% of cases were amplified and 39% were overexpressed. HER-2/neu alterations were not significantly associated with pathological staging or tumor grading. Multifocal tumors had a higher percentage and overexpression with respect to monofocal tumors. Actuarial analyses did not show a significant statistical correlation between HER-2/neu amplification and overexpression and clinical outcome. Clinical evaluation of HER-2/neu status showed that this gene is not related to tumor relapse, progression or patient survival.     

乳腺髓样癌HER．2基因扩增与临床病理因素相关性分析

目的：总结分析荧光原位杂交（fluorescenceinsituhybridization,FISH）技术检测乳腺髓样癌HER-2基因扩增的经验和临床病理学意义。方法：用FISH和免疫组化技术诊断32例乳腺髓样癌患者HER-2基因状态,并分析典型髓样癌和非典型髓样癌HER-2基因扩增的关系。结果：乳腺髓样癌HER-2基因扩增阳性率为37．5％（12／32）,其中典型髓样癌为7．7％（1／13）,非典型髓样癌为57．9％（1l／19）。HERu2基因扩增与髓样癌肿瘤类型（P=0．008）、肿瘤大小（P=0．040）、淋巴结转移（P=0．006）、临床分期（P=0．037）、HER-2蛋白表达（P=0．0001）和p53蛋白表达（P=0．015）有关,与患者年龄（．P=0．438）、ER（P=0．081）和PR（P=0．517）无关。乳腺髓样癌类型与HER-2蛋白表达有关（P=0．010）,与患者年龄（P=0．426）、肿瘤大小（P=0．786）、淋巴结转移（P=0．115）、临床分期（P=0．129）、ER（P=0．116）、PR（P=0．773）和p53（P=0．280）无关。结论：HER-2基因扩增可能参与乳腺髓样癌的演化与进展,乳腺典型髓样癌与非典型髓样癌的HER-2基因扩增有显著性差异,临床应用FISH技术诊断HER-2基因扩增靶标有助于指导乳腺非典型髓样癌-妁分子靶向治疗。     

Restoration of estrogen responsiveness by blocking the HER-2/neu pathway

HER-2/neu gene amplification or protein overexpression is evident in 20-30% of primary breast cancers. Its amplification correlates with poor prognosis. There appears to be an association between HER-2/neu overexpression and estrogen independence. The MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell line is estrogen-dependent and sensitive to the anti-estrogen, tamoxifen (TAM). This line, when transfected with the HER-2/neu gene, becomes estrogen-independent and resistant to TAM. Blockade of the HER-2/neu receptor with 1-5 nM of the humanized HER-2/neu antibody, Herceptin, restored estrogen, as well as TAM, sensitivity. These results suggest that Herceptin or similar drugs may restore estrogen sensitivity and the administration of a HER-2/neu inhibitor with an anti-estrogen to premenopausal patients should be considered.