Quantitation of c-erbB-2 gene amplification in breast cancer tissue by competitive PCR.
Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification to other prognostic factors in breast cancer. To determine the degree of amplification of c-erbB-2 exactly, a sensitive and quantitative method is required. We have developed a competitive PCR method to quantitatively determine the amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene. Using this method, we evaluated DNA from 27 breast cancer tissue specimens and DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes from a normal individual. Regarding the relationship between the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification and clinicopathological factors, we found a greater degree of amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene in estrogen receptor- negative or progesterone receptor-negative specimens than in positive ones and in lymph node metastasis-positive specimens than in negative specimens, in stages II, III, and IV of disease compared with stage I disease, and in samples with positive lymphatic vessel invasion than with no lymphatic vessel invasion. Generally, these factors were seen in the group of patients who had a bad prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, reverse correlation was observed between amplification of c-erbB-2 and overall survival. Regarding disease-free survival, these relationships were observed only with univariate analysis in our group of patients.
Okuyama
N
N
Department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. okuyama@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Hatano
Y
Y
Park
Y
Y
Shimatani
S
S
Sasamoto
S
S
Katou
N
N
Takagi
K
K
Yamazaki
S
S
Inoue
A
A
Hemmi
H
H
Shimatake
H
H
Yanagida
M
M
Miura
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone