title: Lack of HER-2/neu expression in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Overexpression of HER-2/neu oncoprotein, a tyrosine kinase receptor, occurs in a variety of human cancers and has been shown to play a critical role in their development. This overexpression is usually associated with poor clinical outcome. The significance of HER-2/neu in lymphomas is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HER-2/neu in the malignant lymphomas: non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 50 patients with lymphoma. Forty-two specimens were from patients with various types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 8 were from patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. HER-2/neu expression was examined by an immunohistochemical technique using the HercepTest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the specimens demonstrated overexpression or even any expression of HER-2/neu. Reactive plasma cells showed cytoplasmic staining, which was not found in malignant plasma cells from patients with multiple myeloma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas do not express the HER-2/neu oncoprotein. This finding suggests that HER-2/neu does not play a role in these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Hematology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel. obairey@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Osnat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bairey
authors.forename: Idit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pazgal
authors.forename: Elimelech
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okon
authors.forename: Matityahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaklai
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgenshtern
mesh_terms: D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases