Her-2/neu expression in breast cancer--A comparison of different diagnostic methods
Benöhr, P.; Henkel, V.; Speer, R.; Vogel, U.; Sotlar, K.; Aydeniz, B.; Reiser, A.; Neubauer, H.; Tabiti, K.; Wallwiener, D.; Clare, S.E.; Kurek, R.
Anticancer Research 25(3b): 1895-1900
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 16158923 Document Number: 585047
Determination of Her-2/neu overexpression in breast cancer has previously been shown to be of prognostic significance. In this study, Her-2/neu expression in breast cancer was characterised by real-time PCR (RLT-PCR) based LightCycler-HER-2/neu DNA Quantification with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Fifteen specimens of invasive breast cancer - whole tissue sections as well as microdissected tumour cells - were subjected to RLT-PCR. Additionally, IHC and FISH were performed. Her-2/neu overexpression was detected by FISH and by real-time PCR in the same tumours. In contrast, IHC revealed discordant results. Determination of Her-2/neu amplification by real-time PCR is a sensitive and specific method with some advantages over FISH. This method is simple and reliable and has the potential of categorizing those tumours with borderline Her-2/neu overexpression as determined by IHC.