Clinical relevance of HER-2/neu expression in germ-cell testicular tumors.
BACKGROUND
Amplification and/or overexpression of HER-2/neu are associated with poor clinical outcome in several epithelial tumors. However, the exact prognostic role of HER-2/neu expression in testicular germ-cell tumors is equivocal.


METHODS
Since teratomas are relatively chemoresistant tumors, we evaluated the HER-2/neu alterations of 59 primary testicular teratomas and mixed germ-cell tumors containing teratomatous components using the standardized immunohistochemical method (IHC) (HercepTest) and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH).


RESULTS
HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 14 (24%) out of 59 specimens. With IHC, teratomatous and choriocarcinoma components showed significantly higher HER-2/neu expression compared to other histological subtypes of GCTs (p=0.0095). A statistically significant correlation (p=0.0004) can be established between HER-2/neu status and clinical stage of the disease. Similarly, a significant correlation was observed between HER-2/neu overexpression and clinical outcome (p=0.0077). None of the specimens had definite HER-2/neu gene amplification.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that HER-2/neu overexpression is associated with an adverse clinical outcome and has a prognostic role in testicular germ-cell tumors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the exact background of HER-2/neu overexpression in germ-cell tumors and the role of anti-HER-2/neu antibodies in the treatment regimens for this malignancy.
Department of Cytopathology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
László
L
Mándoky
Lajos
L
Géczi
István
I
Bodrogi
József
J
Tóth
Orsolya
O
Csuka
Miklós
M
Kásler
Mihály
M
Bak
D000328:Adult; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases