Immunohistochemical determination of HER-2/neu in malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
HER-2/neu onco-protein is increasingly being recognized as a target for therapy in solid tumors, but data on its role in malignant melanoma is currently limited. Our study objective was to determine a relationship, if any, between HER-2/neu overexpression and malignant melanoma.


METHODS
Overexpression of HER-2/neu was evaluated in patients with malignant melanoma by using immunchistochemistry (DAKO Hercep test) in 202 archival tissue specimens.


RESULTS
Between 1991 and 2001, 202 subjects [109 males; (54%) and 93 females; (46%)] with malignant melanoma were studied. Interestingly, only 2 of the 202 patients (0.9%) with biopsy-proven malignant melanoma revealed HER-2/neu overexpression.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our large study indicate that the HER-2/neu onco-protein neither has a role in melanogenesis nor is a potential target for clinical trials with monoclonal antibody therapy. Thus, there is no role for HER-2/neu testing in patients with malignant melanoma.
Potti
Anil
A
Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology and Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, ND 58102, USA.
Hille
Rachel
R
Koch
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases