title: Overexpression of the HER-2/neu oncogene in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Novel systemic treatments are needed in pancreatic cancer. The authors sought to establish the frequency of overexpression of the HER-2/neu oncogene in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma to determine the potential role of trastuzumab (Herceptin) as a therapeutic agent in this disease. Tumor specimens from patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were analyzed by staining for p185HER2 protein using the DAKO immunohistochemical assay. Patients with and without HER-2/neu overexpression by immunohistochemistry were compared with respect to clinical and pathologic characteristics. HER-2/neu gene amplification was also evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirty-two of 154 patients (21%) had pancreatic adenocarcinoma that demonstrated HER-2/neu overexpression by immunohistochemistry. At initial diagnosis, 16% of resectable cancers, 17% of locally advanced cancers, and 26% of metastatic cancers were determined to have HER-2/neu overexpression. Three of 11 (27%) patients with HER-2/neu overexpression by immunohistochemistry had gene amplification by FISH. HER-2/neu overexpression occurs in a subset of pancreatic cancer. Evaluation of the efficacy of trastuzumab for patients with pancreatic cancer who overexpress HER-2/neu appears indicated.
authors.affiliation: Brown University Oncology Group, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Safran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangray
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berzein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iannitti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pasquariello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akerman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quirk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mass
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tantravahi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab