HER-2/neu oncogene in uterine carcinosarcoma on tamoxifen therapy.
HER-2/neu is an oncogene located on chromosome 17, encoding a type 1 tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor. HER-2/neu is overexpressed in 25-30% of breast cancers, increasing the aggressiveness of the tumor. We describe HER-2/neu overexpression and her-2/neu oncogene amplification in a case of uterine carcinosarcoma occurring in a 46-year-old women who had undergone mastectomy and a 2-year postoperative treatment with tamoxifen for invasive breast cancer. This is the first study demonstrating HER-2/neu expression and her-2/neu oncogene amplification in a uterine carcinosarcoma that has developed in a patient given tamoxifen therapy. It still needs to be clarified whether HER-2/neu overexpression increases the aggressiveness of carcinosarcoma, or whether HER-2/neu has a direct role in its pathogenesis, as described in breast cancers. Our observation of the her-2/neu oncogene amplification does not shed light on the prognostic impact of uterine carcinosarcoma following tamoxifen therapy, but it may indicate the need for further studies of HER-2/neu overexpression in a larger series of uterine carcinosarcoma patients, and it may permit us to hypothesize about a therapeutic concept, including the inhibition of HER-2/neu by humanized monoclonal antibodies also in uterine carcinosarcoma patients.
Raspollini
Maria Rosaria
MR
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni, 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. mariarosaria.raspollini@unifi.it
Mecacci
Federico
F
Paglierani
Milena
M
Marchionni
Mauro
M
Taddei
Gian Luigi
GL
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen