Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status?
Approximately 20% of breast cancers are characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) protein and associated gene amplification. HER-2 testing is an essential part of pathological assessment in breast cancer patients, as HER-2 provides not only prognostic but al...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Galenos Publishing House
2013-10-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Breast Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
http://www.eurjbreasthealth.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/mportance-of-her2-neu-c-erb-b2-status-in-breast-ca/42308
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| _version_ | 1797909350850756608 |
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| author | Nuket Eliyatkın Baha Zengel Safiye Aktaş |
| author_facet | Nuket Eliyatkın Baha Zengel Safiye Aktaş |
| author_sort | Nuket Eliyatkın |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Approximately 20% of breast cancers are characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) protein and associated gene amplification. HER-2 testing is an essential part of pathological assessment in breast cancer patients, as HER-2 provides not only prognostic but also predictive information on the response to targeted therapy. A humanized monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of HER-2 protein, trastuzumab, has significantly improved treatment outcomes in patients with HER-2-overexpressing breast cancer. Therefore, distinguishing which patients will benefit from this drug is essential. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization are used in many laboratories to determine HER-2 status. Both methods require interpretation of the test by a pathologist. Since the correlation between these two methods is nearly below 80% and these techniques are difficult to standardize across laboratories and are subject to interobserver variability, molecular techniques based on the quantitative evaluation of HER-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) have been proposed. More recently, by using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RTPCR), the HER2 mRNA levels have been successfully measured, making this assay a potentially specific, highly sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective way of measuring HER2 status. Q-RT-PCR could become the test of choice to evaluate HER2 status in breast cancer. To achieve this result, however, it will be necessary to validate Q-RT-PCR by a multicenter trial, with the inclusion of several testing laboratories. Accurate HER2 testing is essential for quality patient care. However, no gold standard exists for HER2 testing, and an optimal test for evaluation of HER2 status is still being discussed by pathology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T11:06:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abf973bcb97741719269fc9807148909 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2587-0831 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T11:06:49Z |
| publishDate | 2013-10-01 |
| publisher | Galenos Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Breast Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-abf973bcb97741719269fc98071489092023-02-15T16:19:21ZengGalenos Publishing HouseEuropean Journal of Breast Health2587-08312013-10-019417518110.5152/tjbh.2013.2813049054Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status?Nuket Eliyatkın0Baha Zengel1Safiye Aktaş2 İzmir (Bozyaka) Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Patoloji Kliniği, İzmir, Türkiye İzmir (Bozyaka) Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 3. Genel Cerrahi Kliniği, İzmir, Türkiye Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Onkoloji Enstitüsü, Temel Onkoloji Anabilim Dalı, İzmir, Türkiye Approximately 20% of breast cancers are characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) protein and associated gene amplification. HER-2 testing is an essential part of pathological assessment in breast cancer patients, as HER-2 provides not only prognostic but also predictive information on the response to targeted therapy. A humanized monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of HER-2 protein, trastuzumab, has significantly improved treatment outcomes in patients with HER-2-overexpressing breast cancer. Therefore, distinguishing which patients will benefit from this drug is essential. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization are used in many laboratories to determine HER-2 status. Both methods require interpretation of the test by a pathologist. Since the correlation between these two methods is nearly below 80% and these techniques are difficult to standardize across laboratories and are subject to interobserver variability, molecular techniques based on the quantitative evaluation of HER-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) have been proposed. More recently, by using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RTPCR), the HER2 mRNA levels have been successfully measured, making this assay a potentially specific, highly sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective way of measuring HER2 status. Q-RT-PCR could become the test of choice to evaluate HER2 status in breast cancer. To achieve this result, however, it will be necessary to validate Q-RT-PCR by a multicenter trial, with the inclusion of several testing laboratories. Accurate HER2 testing is essential for quality patient care. However, no gold standard exists for HER2 testing, and an optimal test for evaluation of HER2 status is still being discussed by pathology. http://www.eurjbreasthealth.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/mportance-of-her2-neu-c-erb-b2-status-in-breast-ca/42308 breast cancerher-2method |
| spellingShingle | Nuket Eliyatkın Baha Zengel Safiye Aktaş Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? European Journal of Breast Health breast cancer her-2 method |
| title | Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? |
| title_full | Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? |
| title_fullStr | Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? |
| title_short | Importance of HER2/NEU (C-ERB-B2) Status in Breast Cancer: Which Method is More Effective to Evaluate of HER-2 Status? |
| title_sort | importance of her2 neu c erb b2 status in breast cancer which method is more effective to evaluate of her 2 status |
| topic | breast cancer her-2 method |
| url |
http://www.eurjbreasthealth.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/mportance-of-her2-neu-c-erb-b2-status-in-breast-ca/42308
|
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