HER-2/neu amplification and overexpression in primary human breast cancer is associated with early metastasis

R. K. Tiwari, P. I. Borgen, G. Y. Wong, C. Cordon-Cardo, M. P. Osborne

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107 Scopus citations

Abstract

The etiology of human breast cancer is poorly understood and no specific marker of transformation has been identified. Amplification of HER-2/neu as reported in a comprehensive study by Slamon et al, was found to be the most powerful predictor of disease-free and overall survival after the status of the axillary lymph nodes. Our study examines the HER-2/neu oncogene in 61 primary human breast cancers at both the DIVA level (by Southern blotting) and the protein level (by immunohistochemical methods). Of the 61 tumors analyzed in our study 17 (28%) had amplification of HER-2/neu. There was no significant correlation of HER-2/neu amplification with age tumor diameter or hormone receptor status; however amplification and overexpression of HER-2/neu was significantly correlated with the status of the axillary lymph nodes (P=0.02). Of 16 patients with amplification of HER-2/neu 14 (88%) had positive regional nodes. One of the two node negative cases with amplified HER-2/neu had bone marrow micrometastasis. Overall 16 out of 17 (94%) tumors of the patients having amplified HER-2/neu had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. In summary HER-2/neu amplification is associated with early tumor dissemination in primary human breast cancer and may be a marker of poor prognosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)419-425
Number of pages7
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume12
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aggressive subset
  • HER-2/neu
  • Immunocytochcmistry
  • Lymph node positivity
  • Oncogene
  • Primary human breast cancer
  • Southern blotting

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