Abstract. Overexpression of HER2 protein and HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer are prognostic factors for the response to specific medical treatments such as trastuzumab, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Whereas HER2 expression and gene amplification are generally examined in tissue sections, we investigated whether specimens from fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are adequate for these analyses. HER2 protein overexpression and HER2 gene amplification were assessed in both FNAC specimens and tissue sections from 58 cases of invasive breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry assay for HER2 protein expression was performed according to the HercepTest protocol, and HER2 gene amplification was examined with the Spot-light CISH (chromogenic in situ hybridization) Detection kit. There was a significant positive correlation between assessments of HER2 protein status in the cytology specimens and tissue sections. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of HER2 gene amplification detection in cytology specimens in relation to those in tissue sections were 84.0% (21/25 cases), 87.9% (29/33 cases), and 86.2% (50/58 cases), respectively. FNAC specimens are suitable for detection of HER2 overexpression and HER2 gene amplification in invasive breast cancer.
IntroductionOverexpression of HER2 protein and HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer are prognostic factors for the response to specific medical treatments such as trastuzumab, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy (1-7). HER2 gene amplification or HER2 protein overexpression has been identified in 20-30% of human breast cancers (8,9). HER2 expression and gene amplification are generally examined in tissue sections; however, it would be beneficial if cytology specimens could be used because the method used to obtain such specimens is minimally invasive. Even in tissue samples obtained by core needle biopsy, it is often too difficult to assess HER2 status because the samples are very small or the cancer cells are crushed. Although some studies of HER2 status in cytology specimens have been reported (10-14), assessment of HER2 status in the cytology specimen has not been clearly defined. Moreover, no studies comparing cytology specimens and tissue sections with respect to HER2 expression and HER2 amplification have been reported. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine whether fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimens can be used for the assessment of HER2 gene amplification and HER2 overexpression.
Materials and methodsPatients. The study population consisted of 58 patients who underwent surgery for primary invasive breast cancer at Osaka Medical College (Japan). Patient and tumor characteristics are shown in Table I. The patients comprised 1 man and 57 women who ranged in age from 32-84 years. The tumors included 20 papillotubular carcinomas, 6 solid tubular carcinomas, 31 scirrhous carcinomas, and 1 mucinous carcinoma. During surgery, we used a fine needle to obtain an aspirate from the central part of the resected tumor, and prepare...
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Background: It has been said that the high incidence of breast cancer within family lines could be investigated efficiently from genetic and environmental aspects. There could be a strong enough relationship between various carcinogenic factors and these family members. In this study, we examined the clinical and pathological characteristics of breast cancer among patients with a family history.
 Patients and Methods: We put the definition of 'Positive for a family history (FH+)' for patients who had one or more members within three generations apart from the proband. Patients with family history of breast cancer were selected out of 10506 patients who were treated in our hospital between 1962 and 2007.
 Results: There were 1272 cases in FH+ and 9234 cases in 'Negative for a family history (FH-)' group. Distribution within the family line showed the highest percentage for sisters at 37%, aunts at 25% and a mother at 25%. The family history positive breast cancer patients were around 5% in 1960-1970 although the number increased up to 18% in 2007. There was similar increasing pattern in Europe and America. The survival rate had no significant difference between FH+ and FH- statistically, but the trend was toward a better prognosis in FH+ cases. There was no relationship between family history and body mass index (BMI). The outbreak of contralateral breast cancer of FH+ was significantly higher than FH-. FH+ patients had significantly higher prevalence of a mastopathy compare to FH- patients. As for the history of other cancer species, the FH+ breast cancer patients within first generation apart from the proband had significantly higher chances compared to FH- patients.Conclusion: The breast cancer patients with family history require more detail examinations especially for the development of contralateral breast cancer. Also carcinomatous examinations are important other than breast cancer to those patients who are in the first generation apart from the proband.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6090.
大 阪医科大学病理学教室 1) ,ファルコバイオシステムズ京都 2) ,大阪医科大学附属病院病院病理部 3) Key words:Breast cancer-Cytology-Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -Cellular atypism
示唆する所見であり,術前の予後や治療効果の予測に役立つものと考えられる.Correlation of HER2 protein expression and HER2 gene amplification with cellular atypism in fine needle aspirates of invasive breast cancer Shizuka AKASHI 1) , C. T., I.
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