title: Confrontation of immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization for the assessment of HER-2/ neu (c-erbb-2) status in urothelial carcinoma.
abstract: Specific treatments targeted toward oncogenes expressed in cancer cells are currently under development. Patients with urothelial carcinomas showing HER-2/ neu (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) overexpression are candidates for such a specific treatment (trastuzumab). However, to be effective, this therapeutic approach requires an extremely reliable evaluation of HER-2/ neu status in tumors. In order to assess the status of expression of this gene and to optimize its assessment, we analyzed a series of 64 primary urothelial carcinomas using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with the CB11 monoclonal antibody coupled with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in 21 cases. Strong HER-2/ neu overexpression was detected using IHC in 15 of the 64 (23%) cases analyzed, and this rate rose to 33% for patients with metastases. HER-2/ neu overexpression, as revealed using IHC, is strongly associated (95%) with gene amplification assessed using FISH. Patients with urothelial carcinomas overexpressing HER-2/ neu using IHC are potential candidates for targeted chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du faubourg Saint Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France.
authors.forename: Gonzague
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Pinieux
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent-Salomon
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couturier
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amsellem-Ouazana
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beuzeboc
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieillefond
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases