HER2/neu oncoprotein overexpression in epithelial ovarian cancer: evaluation of its prevalence and prognostic significance. Clinical study

INTRODUCTION: The HER2/neu proto-oncogene encodes a transmembrane receptor protein involved in the development and progression of the majority of cancers. Prior studies have shown that HER2/neu oncogene is overexpressed in approximately 15-30% of ovarian carcinomas. However findings regarding the overexpression and prognosis are still conflicting. METHODS: Our retrospective study was performed on 194 ovarian carcinoma tissues obtained at the time of first surgery. The staining procedure for HER2/neu overexpression was performed using a polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: HER2/neu overexpression was found in 53 out of 194 (27.3%) investigated cases of which 26 (13.4%) carcinomas were weakly positive (score 1+) and 27 (13.9%) moderately (score 2+) to intensely positive (score 3+). No significant relationship was found between HER2/neu score and main clinical and pathological features. Significant difference in overall survival was evident between negative women (0/1+) and positive women (2+/3+): 48 and 29 months, respectively (p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis HER2/neu overexpression appeared to be the only variable significantly correlated with progression and death. CA125 normalization at 3 and 6 months appeared a strong predictor of progression and survival. CONCLUSION: In this study HER2/neu overexpression was associated with an increased risk of progression and death, especially among women with FIGO Stage I and II ovarian carcinoma.     

Expression of NF-kappaB parallels COX-2 expression in oral precancer and cancer: association with smokeless tobacco

Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and COX-2 overexpression have been reported in head and neck cancer, but the relationship between these proteins remains to be investigated. To determine the relationship between NF-kappaB and COX-2 in Smokeless Tobacco (ST) associated oral tumorigenesis, we performed immunohistochemistry in serial sections from 107 OSCCs, 78 oral precancerous lesions (OPLs) (58 hyperplasias, 20 dysplasias) and 15 histologically normal oral tissues and correlated with clinicopathological data. Significant increase in NF-kappaB and COX-2 immunopositivity was observed from normal oral mucosa to OPLs to OSCCs (p = 0.009 and p = 0.002 respectively). Upregulation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 was observed as early as in hyperplasia [p = 0.006; OR = 6.1 and p = 0.003; OR = 7.6, respectively]. Expression of both proteins was found to be significantly associated in OPLs (p = 0.000; OR = 12.6) and OSCCs (p = 0.001; OR = 4.0). Intriguingly, khaini consumption correlated with NF-kappaB immunopositivity in OPLs (p = 0.05, OR = 3.8) and OSCCs (p = 0.01, OR = 3.4) and with COX-2 expression in OPLs (p = 0.03; OR = 4.3). In vitro experimental system of ST associated oral carcinogenesis was used to demonstrate ST (khaini) and NNK mediated activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2, supporting the clinical data. In conclusion, this study demonstrates correlation between over expression of NF-kappaB and COX-2 in early precancerous stages of development of oral cancer and sustained elevation down the tumorigenic pathway, underscoring their potential as targets for early intervention. In vitro studies demonstrated that NNK may be one of the carcinogenic components of ST (khaini) inducing activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 in oral precancer and cancer cells, suggesting plausible role in ST-induced oral carcinogenesis.     

HER 2/neu expression and gene amplification in colon cancer

HER 2/neu is an important oncogene in breast cancer, but the prevalence and significance of HER 2/neu gene amplification in colon cancer have been poorly documented. We have evaluated HER 2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression in a series of colon cancers to assess the frequency, concordance and clinical significance of these events. HER 2/neu gene copy number was measured in 154 primary colon tumors, 15 liver metastases and matched normal tissues using a quantitative PCR/ligase detection reaction (LDR) technique developed and validated in our laboratory. HER 2/neu copy number was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in all tumors found to have gene amplification. In an independent and blinded fashion, HER 2/neu expression was assessed in paraffin sections from 139 of the tumor specimens using the HercepTest kit. HER 2/neu gene amplification was observed in 4 (2.4%) of the 169 tumor specimens and in none of the normal tissues. There was no apparent association with stage of disease, tumor grade or patient survival. Among 139 cases evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), HER 2/neu overexpression was seen in 5 cases (3.6%). There was extremely high concordance (kappa = 0.852) between gene amplification and protein overexpression. The low prevalence of HER 2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression suggests that this oncogene plays an infrequent role in the development and progression of colon cancer. These data indicate that the primary mechanism of dysregulated HER 2/neu expression in colon cancer, as in breast cancer, is gene amplification.     

正常子宫内膜、子宫内膜增殖症及子宫内膜癌ras、HER-2/neu癌基因表达的研究

为研究ｒａｓ、ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ癌基因的表达与子宫内膜癌发生、发展的关系，本文用免疫组化ＡＢＣ法检测了２３例正常子宫内膜、４４例子宫内膜增殖症及１０３例子宫内膜癌组织中ｒａｓ、ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ癌基因的表达情况。结果表明：在子宫内膜非典型增生中即存在ｒａｓ基因的过度表达，过度表达率为２０％，子宫内膜癌ｒａｓ的过度表达率为１８．４％，且ｒａｓ的过度表达与子宫内膜癌的病理分级、分期及患者的生存率无关，说明ｒａｓ癌基因的异常表达可能与癌形成的早期有关。子宫内膜癌中ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ的过度表达率为２７．２％，ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ的过度表达与子宫内膜癌的分期无关，与分级及患者的预后有关，存在ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ过度表达者的生存率低于无过度表达者，前者的５年生存率为５４．８％，后者为７９．６％，结果提示ＨＥＲ－２／ｎｅｕ的过度表达是判断子宫内膜癌预后的生物学指标。     

Effect of HER2/neu expression on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer

Major prognostic factors for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are tumor size and nodal status. It has been suggested that HER2/neu overexpression may be related to poor prognosis in NSCLC. We evaluated the significance of HER2/neu overexpression on survival in patients with NSCLC. Data were collected on 239 patients treated surgically for stage I/II NSCLC between 1987 and 1996. None of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples were stained with p185/HER2 receptor antibody. Results were reported as positive (2+, 3+) or negative (0, 1+) (Group A). A separate analysis considered only 3+ as positive (Group B). HER2/neu overexpression was seen in 18% in Group A (43 of 239) and 6% in Group B (15 of 239). HER2/neu overexpression was highest in bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. More stage I tumors were positive than stage II in both groups, but this was significant only in Group A (21% vs. 7%, P = 0.02). No difference was seen with age, gender, or grade for either group. In Group A, the relapse rate was 55% for HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors and 31% for HER2/neu-negative tumors (P = 0.003). Median time to relapse in patients with HER2/neu-positive tumors was 2.9 years; it was not reached in patients with HER2/neu-negative tumors. Median survival of patients with HER2/neu-positive tumors was 3.6 years compared to 5 years in patients with HER2/neu-negative tumors (P = 0.66). In Group B, the relapse rate was 60% for HER2/neu-overexpressing tumors and 33% for negative tumors (P = 0.036). Median time to relapse was 3.4 years in HER2/neu positive and had not been reached in negative tumors. There was no difference in 5-year survival rates for both groups (47% for HER2/neu positive and 50% for negative, P = 0.66).     

α1，2-岩藻糖转移酶基因转染对卵巢癌细胞中HER2/neu表达及活性的影响

目的:探讨α1,2-岩藻糖转移酶（α1,2-fucosyltransferase,FUT1）基因转染对人卵巢癌细胞中HER2/neu表达及活性的影响。方法:分别应用Real time PCR、免疫细胞化学染色和Western blot方法检测转染前后卵巢癌细胞中HER2/neu在基因、蛋白水平上的表达和磷酸化情况,利用免疫共沉淀方法检测HER2/neu蛋白上是否有Lewis(y) 结构。结果:Real time PCR结果显示转染后细胞中HER2/neu mRNA表达明显增高。免疫细胞化学染色、免疫共沉淀结合Western blot检测到转染后卵巢癌细胞中HER2/neu蛋白和Lewis(y)抗原的表达均较转染前显著增加,HER2/neu蛋白上有Lewis(y)抗原结构。Western blot结果显示基因转染后HER2/neu的酪氨酸磷酸化水平显著升高。结论:Lewis(y)抗原是HER2/neu结构上的一部分,其表达增加不但促进卵巢癌细胞中HER2/neu的表达,还激活了HER2/neu受体酪氨酸激酶。     

Hormone receptors do not predict the HER2/neu status in all age groups of women with an operable breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: In breast cancer, there is an inverse relationship between HER2/neu overexpression and receptors for estrogen (ER) or progesterone (PR). Some clinical observations such as the age-related association between hormone receptors and tumour grade, which predicts HER2/neu overexpression, suggest an age-related relationship. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study population consisted of 1362 consecutive women receiving primary surgery for non-metastatic invasive breast cancer. We compared the relationship between both hormone receptors and HER2/neu overexpression in different age groups taking other tumour characteristics into account. RESULTS: In a multivariate model, considering the overall group, a negative ER, a negative PR and a high tumour grade were predictive for HER2/neu overexpression (P <0.001). Considering 246 women aged < or =45 years, the only predictor for HER2/neu overexpression in this age category was a high tumour grade (P = 0.003). Considering the 1116 women aged >45 years, ER (P = 0.001), PR (P = 0.001) and tumour grade (P <0.001) were associated with HER2/neu (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the association between ER, PR and HER2/neu overexpression varies with age. The hormone receptors are not an independent predictor for the HER2/neu status in young women while they are in elder patients.     

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and HER2/neu in stage II colon cancer and correlation with survival

Monoclonal antibody-directed therapy has been used as an effective treatment for some cancers that overexpress HER2/neu and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Overexpression of the HER2/neu oncogene and VEGF has been reported to occur in adenocarcinomas of the colon. Assessing whether HER2/neu and VEGF overexpression could serve as prognostic indicators for stage II colon cancer may provide insight into optimal treatment following surgery. Demographic and tumor characteristics from 109 patients diagnosed with stage II colon cancer between 1991 and 1996 were assessed for HER2/neu and VEGF expression using immunohistochemical staining techniques. Of the 109 cases, 107 (98%) were histologically classified as adenocarcinomas, 105 (96%) were grades 2/3, and 105 (96%) were stage T3. Only 12 cases (11%) exhibited HER2/neu overexpression and 72 cases (66%) exhibited VEGF expression. There was no significant difference in overall survival or in time to recurrence between the groups with and without HER2/neu overexpression. There was a trend toward decreased overall survival with VEGF expression (P = 0.07), but no difference in time to recurrence (P = 0.63). There were 18 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, but removal of these patients from the analysis did not change the results. There was no association between HER2/neu and VEGF expression and patient demographics or tumor characteristics, with the exception of VEGF expression and mucinous histology (P < 0.01). Our results do not support an association between HER2/neu or VEGF expression and overall survival or time to recurrence in stage II colon cancer. With further investigation, a significant correlation may be found between VEGF expression and prognosis, and thus direct therapy with a monoclonal antibody.     

Evaluation of HER-2/neu Overexpression in Gastric Carcinoma using a Tissue Microarray

Background: Amplification and overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 /neu) oncogene has considerable prognostic value in breast and gastric cancers. This study aimed to evaluatethe frequency, overexpression pattern, clinical significance, and concordance between the results for proteinexpression and gene amplification of HER-2/neu in gastric and gastro-esophageal junction carcinomas.Materials and Methods: In this study, 101 gastric tissue samples which were included in tissue microarray wereimmunohistochemically examined for overexpression of HER2/neu. Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH)was used for HER-2/neu amplification. The correlation of HER2/neu amplification with clinicopathologicalparameters was also assessed. In addition, concordance between CISH and IHC was detected. Results: This studydemonstrated a significant difference in the overexpression of HER2/neu in gastric tumors. The overexpression ofHER2/neu was significantly higher in intestinal type, poorly differentiated grade, large size (5 cm≤) and positivenodal involvement tumors (p-value=0.041, 0.015, 0.038 and 0.071, respectively). Also, amplification of HER2/neuaccording to CISH test, had a significant positive correlation with tumor size and tumor type (p-value=0.018 and0.058, respectively).Concordance between CISH and IHC was 76.9% in 101 evaluable samples. Conclusions:IHC/CISH differences were attributed to basolateral membranous immunoreactivity of glandular cells resultingin incomplete membranous reactivity and/or a higher rate of tumor heterogeneity in gastric cancers comparedto breast cancers. Therefore, this can be a potential marker for targeted therapy of malignant gastric tumors.     

Automated electrorotation to reveal dielectric variations related to HER-2/neu overexpression in MCF-7 sublines.

PURPOSE: Electrorotation (ROT) is a technique that allows for determination of the dielectric properties of living cells when exposed to a rotating electric field. We evaluated the ROT behavior of MCF/neo and p185(neu) transfectancts MCF/HER2-11 and MCF/HER2-18 to investigate whether differences in HER-2/neu expression were associated with differences in dielectric properties in these cells. Experimental Design: P185(neu) was measured by Western blotting in MCF/neo cells and HER-2/neu transfectants MCF/HER2-11 and MCF/HER2-18. ROT spectra and cell membrane-specific capacitance were obtained for each cell line. RESULTS: The mean cell membrane-specific capacitance values for MCF/neo, MCF/HER2-11, and MCF/HER2-18 were 2.09, 1.70, and 2.56 microF/cm(2), respectively. The mean specific capacitance for MCF/neo was significantly different from that for MCF/HER2-11 (P = 0.006) and that for MCF/HER2-18 (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: ROT is sufficiently sensitive to detect variations in dielectric properties in breast cancer cell lines overexpressing p185(neu). These differences may be related to the morphological alterations determined by HER-2/neu overexpression.     

In ovarian cancer the prognostic influence of HER2/neu is not dependent on the CXCR4/SDF-1 signalling pathway

HER2/neu overexpression is a driving force in the carcinogenesis of several human cancers. In breast cancer the prognostic influence of HER2/neu was shown to be at least partly based on increased metastatic potential mediated by the chemokine-chemokine receptor pair SDF-1(CXCL12)/CXCR4. We wanted to evaluate the influence of HER2/neu on ovarian cancer prognosis and to investigate whether compromised survival would correlate with CXCR4 expression and/or SDF-1 abundance. Therefore, we analysed HER2/neu, CXCR4, and SDF-1 in 148 ovarian tumour samples by means of immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Overexpression of HER2/neu was found in 27.6% of ovarian cancer tissues and in 15% of ovarian borderline tumours. In ovarian cancer patients, overexpression of HER2/neu correlated closely with overall survival (univariate hazard ratio (HR) 2.59, P=0.005; multiple corrected HR 1.92, P=0.074). In contrast, CXCR4 expression and SDF-1 abundance had no impact on overall survival, and both parameters were not correlated with HER2/neu expression. As expected, cytoplasmic CXCR4 expression and SDF-1 abundance correlated closely (P<0.0001). Our results confirm a univariate influence of HER2/neu expression on overall survival, which was completely independent of the expression of CXCR4 and the abundance of SDF-1, implying significant differences between the HER2/neu downstream pathways in ovarian cancer compared with breast cancer.     

Simultaneous detection of expression and gene mutations of HER2/neu in Chinese patients with gastric cancer

HER2/neu is one of the few identified oncogenes in tumorigenesis. Attention has been focused on the potential effect of HER2/neu mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain on carcinoma-targeted therapy. However, data concerning HER2/neu mutations in Chinese patients with gastric cancer (GC) are limited. This study aimed to detect the expression and somatic mutations of HER2/neu in Chinese patients with GC. Immunohistochemical staining for HER2/neu was performed on 72 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of GC (40 intestinal and 32 diffuse type). The correlation between the overexpression of HER2/neu and clinicopathological parameters was statistically analyzed. Somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of HER2/neu in the 72 patients were detected by direct sequencing. In the GC group, overexpression of HER2/neu was detected in 13 of the 72 GC patients and in 4 of the 72 adjacent tissues in the non-tumorous group (18.1 vs. 5.6%, P<0.05). Furthermore, the intestinal type of GC exhibited a higher rate of HER2/neu overexpression than the diffuse type (29.7 vs. 5.7%, P<0.05). The rate of HER2/neu overexpression in stage III-IV (TNM stage) GC cases was significantly higher than that in stage I-II (28.2 vs. 6.6%, P<0.05). HER2/neu overexpression correlated with a significantly less favorable patient survival (P=0.046). No somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of HER2/neu were detected in tumor tissues or the corresponding non-tumorous ones in the specimens obtained from the 72 Chinese GC patients. Results suggest that overexpression of HER2/neu is a frequent molecular event strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis, whereas the incidence of somatic mutations of the HER2/neu kinase domain is more likely a low-frequency event in Chinese GC patients.     

Fragile histidine triad expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and precursor lesions.

PURPOSE: Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) expression in precursor oral lesions (POL) and oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) was studied with regard to (a) the frequency of loss of FHIT expression, (b) whether loss of FHIT expression correlates with degree of dysplasia in POLs, (c) whether FHIT loss predicts high-risk POLs that are more likely to transform, and (d) whether FHIT loss in OSCCs correlates with survival. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Ninety-four POLs and 86 OSCCs were immunostained for FHIT. Survival analysis was done for cases with validated clinical outcomes. RESULTS: By optimizing the immunostaining protocol, we found that FHIT is expressed in a distinctive strong nuclear and weak cytoplasmic pattern in oral tissues. Loss of FHIT expression was found in 42 of 94 (45%) POLs and in 66 of 86 (77%) OSCCs. We observed a statistically significant positive correlation between frequency of FHIT loss and increasing grade of dysplasia (chi2=13.8; degrees of freedom=4; P=0.008). Loss of FHIT expression in POLs that progressed to malignancy was more frequent than in those that did not [17 of 25 (68%) versus 12 of 29 (41.4%), respectively]. This difference was statistically significant (chi2=3.8; degrees of freedom=1; P=0.046). In OSCCs, loss of FHIT staining indicated a worse prognosis (survival rate, 36.2%) than when positive FHIT staining was observed (survival rate, 50%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.546, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank). CONCLUSIONS: FHIT seems to localize to both nuclear and cytoplasmic domains. FHIT inactivation occurs early in oral carcinogenesis and may be useful molecular marker for progressive dysplastic oral lesions.     

雌激素受体阴性乳腺癌 HER －2过表达及与影像学和临床病理特征的关系

目的：探讨人类表皮生长因子受体 HER －2过表达在雌激素受体阴性（ER －）乳腺癌诊断中的价值及其与钼靶、超声影像学特征及临床病理特征的关系,并与 ER －／HER －2－乳腺癌进行比较。方法：收集临床资料完整的 ER －乳腺癌患者190例,其中 HER －2过表达（HER －2＋）乳腺癌患者78例,HER －2无过表达（HER －2－）型乳腺癌患者112例。比较两组患者的钼靶及超声影像学表现和临床病理特征。结果：在这190例 ER －乳腺癌患者中,HER －2＋乳腺癌组与 HER －2－组比较,年龄差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．0049）;均具有较高的病理组织学分级,组间差异无统计学意义（P ＝0．296）。HER －2＋乳腺癌组更多表现为淋巴结阳性（P ＝0．003）。钼靶 X 线检查 HER －2＋与 HER －2－两组间比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）。单纯钙化 HER －2＋组（46．2％）较 HER －2－组（13．4％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;单纯肿物 HER －2－组（58．0％）较 HER －2＋组（34．6％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．0038）;肿物特征 HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．017）;HER －2＋组（42．5％）多表现为分叶状肿物,较 HER－2－组（14．9％）,差异具统计学意义（P ＝0．0030）;HER －2－组（33．3％）多为圆形肿物,较 HER －2＋组（12．5％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．013）;HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组肿物边缘组间比较,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2＋组（57．5％）较多变现为毛刺,较 HER －2－组（14．9％）,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2－组较 HER －2＋组光滑程度,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;HER －2＋组（89．8％）更多表现为恶性钙化,较 HER －2－组（29．7％）,差异具有统计学意义。超声检查 HER －2＋组与 HER －2－组,差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．005）;肿块边缘差异具有统计学意义（P ＜0．001）;内部回声差异具有统计学意义（P ＝0．014）。结论：不同类型的乳腺癌有不同的生物学特征,其钼靶影像学表现也不尽相同,了解 ER －HER －2＋型乳腺癌的钼靶及超声影像学特征,可帮助临床医师预测乳腺癌这一亚型及相关类型和患者的预后,以及评估患者对各种治疗方法的敏感性,有利于制定最优的治疗方案。     

HER-2/neu基因在鼻咽癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨HER－2／neu基因在鼻咽癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法：采用免疫组化法测定HER－2／neu基因蛋白的表达。结果：69例鼻咽癌病人中52％（36／69）有HER－2／neu基因蛋白表达。这种过表达与肿瘤分期、局部淋巴结和远处脏器转移以及5年总生存期、3年无病生存期均无相关性。同一病例原发病灶和复发或转移灶HER－2/neu基因蛋白的表达较一致。HER－2／neu基因蛋白过表达对鼻咽癌化疗的反应性不产生影响。结论：在鼻咽癌,HER－2／neu基因蛋白过表达的临床意义不前,HER-2/neu基因蛋白能否成为治疗新的靶点还有待进一步研究。     

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.     

Her-2/neu overexpression and amplification in uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive subtype of endometrial cancer characterized by early metastasis, resistance to therapy, and a high mortality rate. Little is known about the biology of these tumors. Smaller studies suggest that Her-2/neu may be involved in the tumorigenesis of this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protein expression and gene amplification of Her-2/neu in UPSC and to determine its prognostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor tissue from 68 patients with UPSC treated at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1989 to 2002 was available. Her-2/neu expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Overexpression was defined as complete membrane staining in greater than 10% of the cells. In tumors with overexpression of Her-2/neu by IHC, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to assess gene amplification. Clinical and pathologic information was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Twelve (18%) of 68 tumors demonstrated Her-2/neu overexpression. Of these, only two showed gene amplification. When evaluating all 68 patients, Her-2/neu overexpression was associated with a poorer overall survival (OS; P = .008). In our multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, Her-2/neu IHC overexpression, lymph node status, and stage were each associated with OS (P < or = .05). CONCLUSION: Positive IHC overexpression of Her-2/neu was seen in 18% of UPSCs but was rarely correlated with Her-2/neu gene amplification. Overexpression of Her-2/neu was associated with a worse overall prognosis. The use of trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) in women with UPSC should be further evaluated in a clinical trial setting.