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

  


Authors: Tiwari, R. K.; Borgen, P. I.; Wong, G. Y.; Cordon-Cardo, C.; Osborne, M. P.
Article Title: HER-2/neu amplification and overexpression in primary human breast cancer is associated with early metastasis
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 DNA 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.
Keywords: oncogene; immunocytochemistry; tumors; carcinoma; expression; c-erbb-2; southern blotting; neu oncogene; proto-oncogene; her-2/neu; egf receptor; cathepsin-d; c-erb b-2; prognosis; lymph node positivity; primary human breast cancer; aggressive subset
Journal Title: Anticancer Research
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0250-7005
Publisher: International Institute of Anticancer Research  
Date Published: 1992-03-01
Start Page: 419
End Page: 425
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:A1992HR47900022
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 1349794
Notes: Source: Wos
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MSK Authors
  1. Carlos Cordon-Cardo
    612 Cordon-Cardo
  2. Patrick I Borgen
    253 Borgen
  3. George Y. Wong
    89 Wong
  4. Michael P. Osborne
    61 Osborne
  5. Raj K. Tiwari
    15 Tiwari
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